Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat mucous of an infected person. Prior to the development of vaccine, major epidemics occurred every 2-3 years and caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year. Even with the availability of vaccine, there is still more than 140,000 people died from measles in 2018.
Symptoms
The initial symptoms, include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeks, can develop after 7-14 days a measles infection. Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after the symptoms begin, followed by measles rash which usually starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Transmissions
Measles is an airborne disease, and it can be spread when infected person coughs and sneezes. The virus can stay in an airspace for up to two hours, and it can infect the people when they breathe the contaminated air.
Treatments
There is no antiviral treatment available for measles virus.
Infection Control
Vaccine is available for measles. The measles vaccine is often incorporated with rubella and mumps vaccines. In 2018, about 86% of the children has received 1 dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday.
Measles virus is an enveloped virus and they can be inactivated by 70% ethanol. Hisept has a range of products, including hand sanitizers, antiseptic solution, surface and instrument disinfectants that can effectively inactivate virus, including measles viruses. The virucidal activity of these products have been proved by EN 14476 tests.
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