Measles: a disease often forgotten but not gone

Abstract

Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious vaccinepreventable disease caused by the measles virus-a virus of the Paramyxoviridae family. The illness typically begins with fever, runny nose, cough, and pathognomonic enanthem (Koplik spots) followed by a characteristic erythematous, maculopapular rash. The rash classically begins on the face and becomes more confluent as it spreads cephalocaudally. Laboratory confirmation of measles virus infection can be based on a positive serological test for measles-specific immunoglobulin M antibody, a four-fold or greater increase in measles-specific immunoglobulin G between acute and convalescent sera, isolation of measles virus in culture, or detection of measles virus ribonucleic acid by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Complications occur in 10% to 40% of patients, and treatment is mainly symptomatic. Bacterial superinfections, if present, should be properly treated with antibiotics. To eradicate measles, universal childhood immunisation and vaccination of all susceptible individuals with measles vaccine would be ideal. In developed countries, routine immunisation with measles-containing vaccine is

Measles outbreak at an international airport: a Hong Kong perspective

“…Blood tests for measles antibodies take approximately 1 week before the results are available to determine the need to vaccinate. 1 Initially, there were insufficient stocks of measles vaccines to administer to all vulnerable airport staff. The Department of Health provided the measles serology test service to airport staff and a cumulative total of 777 blood samples were collected.…”

“…Paediatric complications such as encephalitis occur once in a million cases. 1,6,19 However, amid the rise in measles infections, the Hong Kong Department of Health announced a change to existing measles vaccine policy so that children get their second dose of measles vaccine at an earlier age. 20 It is now recommended that children will receive the second dose of measles vaccine at age 18 months instead of at age 6 years.…”

“…Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious childhood vaccine-preventable disease caused by the measles virus. 1,2 Complications occur in 10% to 40% of affected patients, and treatment is mainly symptomatic. 1,[3][4][5][6] In developed countries, routine immunisation with measles-containing vaccine is recommended with the first dose at age 12 to 15 months and the second dose at age 4 to 6 years.…”

“…1,2 Complications occur in 10% to 40% of affected patients, and treatment is mainly symptomatic. 1,[3][4][5][6] In developed countries, routine immunisation with measles-containing vaccine is recommended with the first dose at age 12 to 15 months and the second dose at age 4 to 6 years. 7,8 In regions with high rates of measles transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the first dose of measles-containing vaccine be given at age 9 months and the second dose at age 15 to 18 months.…”

“…9,10 Recently, outbreaks of measles have been reported globally, especially in Asia. 1,11,12 An outbreak in early 2019 at the Hong Kong International Airport also created a public health concern, with wide national media coverage. 13 Between March and mid-May 2019, 73 individuals were identified to have been infected with measles, including 29 airport workers.…”