Research Paper on Measles: An Acute and Highly Transmissible Disease

Introduction

Measles is an acute and highly transmissible disease that causes severe illness which can result in death. Measles is characterized by fever, running nose, dry cough, sore throat, skin rashes, and inflamed eyes. A measles outbreak was first discovered in the 9th century. By 2000, the United States had eliminated measles. The outbreak occurs when disease cases occur in a community more than they are expected. Many factors help to reduce measles outbreaks in the United States, though more cases have been reported in the past decade. In the United States, 92 percent of the children get measles vaccines two and a half years old and about 90 percent of teenagers have been immunized twice (Slade, Klekamp, Rico, & Mejia-Echeverry, 2014). The number of children and youths who have been vaccinated is still higher were compared to other countries in the world. Few of the cases reported in 2014 were from people who were not immunized completely.

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On January 11, 2014, the child care facility in Orange County in Florida notified the department of health about the measles outbreak. A parent reported three siblings who were unattended had measles. All the siblings were not vaccinated for measles, and they had not traveled out of the Orange County during the when they are suspected of having been exposed (Slade et al., 2014). In the same month, another case of measles outbreak was reported. A Brazilian male citizen was suspected of having measles that became ill while he was on vacation in Florida. Further investigation was carried out, but no other cases were reported.

The outbreak of this disease, especially in Orange County, can be traced back to unvaccinated Brazilian citizen who was in Orange County for a vocation. It is challenging to identify the sources of all measles cased which were reported in Orange County. From December 2, 2014, to December 31, 2014, 681 cases of measles were reported (Slade et al., 2014). It was suspected that the Brazilian citizen who came to Orange County had the infections and he might be the one who spread it the siblings (Slade et al., 2014).

Epidemiological Determinants Associated With the Measles Outbreak

Epidemiological determinant entails the causes and risk factors associated with a disease. The epidemiological determinants (causes and risk factors) of measles outbreak are discussed below. Measles is commonly caused by a highly transmissible virus known as paramyxovirus, which replicates in the victim's nose and throat (Phadke, Bednarczyk, Salmon, & Omer, 2016). The virus is spread by droplets when the infected person talks. Sneezes or coughs. The virus can survive in free air and on surfaces for about two hours after the infected person has left. The virus invades the respiratory system hence causing fever and flu and eventually spreads throughout the body. In a separate case, a 7-year-old child who was suspected not to have been vaccinated because his parents believe that by being vaccinated will prevent them from traveling to Switzerland with the family members (Phadke et al., 2016). A week after coming back home from vacation, the child got sick but was not taken to hospital. He started to develop symptoms that were suspected to be of measles. The child continued to have rashes and high fever. When the child was admitted to the emergency department, he was diagnosed with measles.

The other common epidemiological determinant for the outbreak of measles is inappropriate vaccination and immunization against measles and personal beliefs. Siblings who were not vaccinated were affected by measles because they might have been in direct contact with the Brazilian citizen. These siblings were diagnosed with measles because they were not vaccinated; therefore, they were highly susceptible to measles infection (Phadke et al., 2016). Similarly, any adults who were not vaccinated against measles were at a higher risk of developing measles. In the event of the measles outbreak, most of the people who are affected are children who are below one year and cannot be administered with measles vaccines. Some of these children are also unvaccinated because of personal beliefs.

Vaccine failure is also an epidemiological determinant that makes people susceptible to measles. The Brazilian citizen was vaccinated, but because vaccines failed, he was able to contract measles. Vaccine failure is associated with factors such as inadequate storage of vaccines and inappropriate of vaccines which lower the potency of these vaccines (Phadke et al., 2016).

Another epidemiological determinant of measles is international travel. People who travel to developing countries where measles has not been eliminated are at a higher risk of contracting this disease (CDCP, 2012). A Brazilian citizen who was infected with measles crossed borders and entered into Orange County and consequently, he was able to spread this infection to the siblings because they might have come into close contact with the civilian.

The Routine of Transmission of Measles

The virus that causes measles is highly transmissible; thus, it can spread from one person to the other quickly. The virus lives in either the throat or nose of the infected person (CDC, 2017). This virus can spread from the infected person to a healthy person through talking, sneezing, or coughing. If the health person breathes the contaminated air or becomes in direct contact with the infected surface, then touches their mouths, noses, and eyes, they can contract measles (CDCP, 2012). Measles is contagious in that people close to the infected person are a higher risk of contracting this disease. A child infected with measles virus will experience symptoms such as muscle pains, loss of appetite, runny nose, skin rash, dry cough, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, fatigue, fever, malaise, and sensitivity to light.

Impacts of Measles to a Community System

It is not surprising to have a measles outbreak in a place such as Portland, Oregon. Their immunity level is at 92% indicating that the city's population is well vaccinated (Terry & Lewis, 2018). However, there exists an unimmunized population even within the chattered schools in the city (Terry & Lewis, 2018). Most parents take their children to chattered schools because they are attracted by the teaching methods, small class sizes and specialized programs in the schools. However it is important to note that there are some Oregon schools with low immunity levels that range between 37% and 69% (Terry & Lewis, 2018). This statistics signify a disaster because if one of the children goes out of the school and contracts the virus, he/she will spread it to many other pupils hence causing an outbreak.

The measles outbreak is costing local government and taxpayer a lot of money (Terry & Lewis, 2018). When there is an outbreak, governments spend a lot of money on the public healthcare system. These funds could have been used for other development purposes instead of treating measles, which could have been otherwise prevented. Parents will have to spend more time looking after their families hence reducing the working time which translates to low income for the affected families.

Measles outbreak also affects the business operations and education systems in the country. Families affected by the epidemic are forced to abandon their business to spend time with the sick family members. Most families depend on their businesses, and once there is a measles outbreak, family members will spend a lot of time at home taking care of sick children. Absenteeism will increase at various schools sick the sick kids may not attend to their educational matters. A lot of learning time will be lost leading to reduced educations standards (CDC, 2017).

The measles outbreak has impacts on hospital systems. More often than not, measles patients are treated as emergency cases, and they are put in isolated rooms. The hospital has the responsibility to trace these patients and at the same time, keep checking on the health conditions of the health care worker to ensure that they are free from nosocomial infections (Terry & Lewis, 2018).

Measles Reporting Protocol for a Measles Outbreak

The local healthcare department needs to know when there is an outbreak. The local government will take care of the health needs for the victims. There are various channels of communication that can be used to inform the authorities about such outbreaks. Once there is a suspected case of measles. Health care providers should follow this protocol when reporting this outbreak (CDC, 2017):

• Start investigation.
• Report the suspected, probable, and confirmed cases.
• Initiate transport of the specimen to the laboratories for further investigation.
• Put the cases in isolation for up to four days as the investigation continues.
• Identification of case contacts and the potential transmission site
• Provide assistance and consultation services to patients and affected people.
• Make necessary recommendations and vulnerable person.
• Finally, conduct disease surveillance and complete the measles report.

The local health departments have the responsibility of initiating vaccine clinics that will help in the undertaking the vaccination exercise as well as alerting the public on the extent of spread of the virus. ACDP shall receive the data collected and work closely with the CDC to give a comprehensive report on the way forward (CDC, 2017).

Measles Outbreak Prevention Strategies

Health Education Strategy

Health education strategy entails a combination of learning and interaction designed to assist individuals and the community in understanding what they are supposed to do to improve their health and knowledge about disease outbreak. Health education strategies will help health individuals and the community to identify the sign and symptoms of measure and the necessary steps they should take once they suspect the outbreak of this disease. Additionally, health education strategy will help affected people and the community to understand how to control and prevent the occurrence of measles once it has been eradicated. Besides, health education strategy will help patients and the caregivers to make better health choices and enable them to take part in evidence-based practices such as immunization and vaccination (CDC, 2017).

Measles Immunization Programs

Measles outbreak can be prevented through immunization and vaccination. Measles vaccines do not only protect individuals against measles but also other diseases such as mumps and rubella (CDC, 2015). It is also recommended that children should be given two doses of measles vaccines. Adults should also know their immunization schedules. Measles immunization program will also help to reduce the burden of these diseases and also prevent cross border spread of these diseases. Once a person is adequately immunized against measles, chances of him/her getting infected with measles virus are minimal because these vaccines have strengthened their immunity.

In scientific studies the measles (MMR) vaccination has been proven to be safe and effective for children (CDC, 2015). Even though the safety record is good standing the vaccination, like any other medicine, have side effects. To name two of the rare side effects that pertain to the measles (MMR) vaccination are: severe allergic reactions and febrile seizures that are caused by fever from the vaccination (CDC, 2015). Even though these side effects are rare but possible the measles vaccination is safer than not getting the vaccination. Experts state that the initial vaccination should be given to the child at age 12 to 15 months and the final dose at age 4 to 6 years old. With giving the vaccinations in the proper time frame, the measles vaccination is proven to be 99% effective (CDC, 2015). Also, it is important for...