Measles

Now there's an outbreak of measles in the Netherlands, I've got a reason to blog about.. Measles.
So far, 30 people have been lab-confirmed to have measles. Most, if not all, of these people live in the Dutch 'bible belt', a region in the Netherlands where many people do not have their children vaccinated for religious reasons.[1][2][3]

The last measles outbreak in the Netherlands was in 1999/2000, and yes, this was in the very same bible belt region.[1][2][3]
One way or another, this once again proves that vaccinations can be quite useful.

Measles is a highly contagious disease which generally affects children. One sick person may infect about 10 or more people.[1]
For those of you studying epidemics: its reproductive rate Ro is about 13, which is remarkably high. (The reproductive rate for smallpox is only 6 or so, go figure how contagious measles really is..)
Because of their weaker immune systems, malnourished children are at risk of dying, but even in the Netherlands, children have been known to die because of measles.

Bacterial/Viral/Fungal/Parasitic: Viral
Causative agent: Rubeola
Incubation time: about 2 days
Antibiotics of choice: - 
Antivirals of choice: -
Toxins / Factors: - 
Bioterrorism agent category: ? (I think it sucks..)
Vaccine available: Yes
[4]

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About the virus 
The measles virus (rubeola) is a paramyxovirus. It is a single-stranded , negative-strand RNA virus. It exists only in human reservoirs.[4]

Symptoms 
- Nasal discharge
- Redness of the eyes
- Fever
- Cough
- Rash starting at the head and neck, which gradually spreads downwards
- White spots on the insides of the cheeks
[4][5][6]

Complications
- Middle ear infection
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea
- Blindness
- Measles encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, can be lethal!)
[4][5][6]

Risk groups
- Children
- Unvaccinated people
- People with impaired immune systems
[4][5][6]

Transmission 
The virus is transmitted through sneezing and coughing. It will remain active outside a host for about 2 hours.

Infected individuals are contagious for about 8 days (they're contagious starting 4 days prior to the onset of the rash).[5]

Treatment
- Mostly supportive.
- There are no antivirals of choice.[5]

Prevention
- Immunization[4][5][6]


 
[1] RIVM, Verspreiding van mazelen in de Biblebelt, June 12th, 2013
http://www.rivm.nl/Bibliotheek/Algemeen_Actueel/Nieuwsberichten/2013/Verspreiding_van_mazelen_in_de_Biblebelt
[2] English.news.cn, Measles outbreak occurs in Dutch "Bible belt", June 12th, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/health/2013-06/12/c_132450229.htm
[3] Dutch News, Measles Outbreak hits Dutch Bible belt, 30 cases so far confirmed, June 12th, 2013
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/06/measles_outbreak_hits_dutch_bi.php
[4] Madigan, M., Martinko, J., Stahl, D., Clark, D., Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 2011, Pearson
[5] World Health Organization, Measles, February 2013,
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/index.html
[6] World Health Organization, Measles, April 24th, 2012,
http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/measles/en/index.html