Vaccine Preventable Disease: Measles

Measles is one of the serious diseases caused by a virus, called rubeola virus. As measles  can be spread through air, it is a high contagious infection,  which can lead to negative health outcomes, such as seizures, pneumonia, brain damage and even lethal outcomes. Measles is still a common disease in all part of the world. Many recent measles outbreaks occurred in the United States are due to the infection brought by immigrants who came to the country from other parts of the world. The best way to prevent measles is to select vaccination. According to statistical data provided by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, “in 2015, 188 people from 24 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles” (Measles Cases and Outbreaks, 2017). Vaccine Preventable Disease: Measles The major cause of the large, multi-state measles outbreak inexperienced Americans in 2015 is associated with the spread of infection in a California’s amusement park. It was reported that the outbreak occurred from an infected traveller who visited the amusement park. The analysis provided by CDC scientists pointed out to the

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fact that “the measles virus type in this outbreak (B3) was identical to the virus type that caused the large measles outbreak in the Philippines in 2014” (Measles Cases and Outbreaks, 2017). In 2014, there were 23 measles outbreaks in the USA. The largest measles outbreak involved 383 cases among the unvaccinated residents of Amish communities in the state of Ohio. It was reported that the disease was brought by travellers from the Philippines. Due to high population immunity provided by high level of measles vaccination coverage, it is possible to ensure measles elimination in the country. The statistical data show that “worldwide, approximately 20 million measles cases occur annually” (Clemmons, 2015). It is crucial to avoid importations of the disease to the United States through implementation of obligatory vaccination.  Measles transmission by unvaccinated travellers may significantly  increase the risk for measles transmission to people who “cannot be vaccinated because of underlying medical conditions, or infants too young to be vaccinated” ( Clemmons, 2015). Hence, vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps and whooping cough should be prevented by means of vaccination, which can be viewed as the appropriate public health tool against outbreaks.  Vaccine Preventable Disease: Measles