Preventing Measles Virus

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases, and it causes many deaths annually. In 2013, there were 400 deaths every 24 hours. Measles virus transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing. In addition, if the person is in infected environment, he will have a high probability of infection. Therefore, it is important to prevent the person from catching the measles virus. In order to prevent humans from getting measles, they should follow three steps: take the proper precautions for protection, distinguish measles' stages of infection, and seek medical care (1). When the infected person is coughing there is a chance of transmit the virus to another person. Therefore, the first step that the person should do in order to prevent measles is by taking the proper precautions for protection. The precautions are in two steps. First, the person should avoid being in infected environment and keep up the hygiene. For example, the person should minimize a hand contact with surfaces and wash his hand frequently. Second, the person should avoid the direct contact with the infected person and wear a surgical mask in order to block the virus transmission (2,3). …show more content…
Measles infection start with the incubation period, which takes 10-12 days. Incubation period starts from being exposure to the virus until the appearing of the first symptom. The second stage of infection is called the prodrome stage which takes 2-4 days. This stage is characterizes with appearing of the initial symptoms which they are coughing, runny nose, watery eyes and fever of 40°c-41°c. Also, some people may have Koplik's spots in their mouth before the third stage. Then, in the final stage, which takes 5-6 days the rash starts appearing. The rash is characterized as tiny red spots, and they start appearing in the head and neck, then it spreads gradually into all the body