Measles

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Measles_virus.JPG

MORBILLIVIRUS Infection of the

respiratory system

Paramyxovirus

Negative-sense single-stranded RNA

Envelope virushttp://www.nature.com/nsmb/journal/v14/n12/images/nsmb1342-F1.jpg

MEASLES IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Vaccinations MMR ~ 18 months 2nd Dose ~ 4-5 years

Fatality Rate: 3 deaths/1000 cases 0.3% fatality

MEASLES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

WHO recommends two dosages: 6 & 9 months

HIV Infection

Fatality Rate: Can be as high as

28%!

What’s the problem?

Why is there such a high fatality rate in the developing countries?

NO IMMUNIZATION! “[Measles] is a highly contagious viral

infection that kills more children than any other vaccine preventable disease” - UNICEF

Lack of immunization due to three things:PovertyPoor health systemsLack of information

How is measles transmitted?

TRANSMISSION Highly contagious

Can infect 90% of people in close contact

Can remain active and contagious for 2 hours

Structure of paramyxoviruses

•16 kb nucleotides

DIAGNOSIS OF MEASLESMicroscopyImmunofluorescence Virus IsolationSerology

Fever + Three C’s

SYMPTOMS: 10-14 incubation period

High fever, runny nose, red/watery eyes, rash

Koplik’s spots

Severe complications

TREATMENT No known treatments

Fluids and Vitamin A

LJ-001??

SO WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS?

ORGANIZATIONS HELPING TO FIGHT MEASLES

Measles Initiative - 1971

Still 164,000 people die from measles each year

2010 goal – 90% worldwide

IMPACT OF THE MEASLES INITIATIVE

THIS WAS IN 2008…

REFERENCES “Global Measles Elimination”. Nature Review. December 2006. <http://

www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n12/full/nrmicro1550.html>. “Measles”. Wikipedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measles>. Measles Initiative. <http://www.measlesinitiative.org>. “Measles Outbreak Triggered by Unvaccinated Child”. U.S. News & World

Report. <http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/in fectious-diseases/articles/2010/03/22/measles-outbreak-triggered-by-unvaccinated-child.html>.

“Modulation of Immune System Function by Measles Virus Infection: Role of Soluble Factor and Direct Infection”. Journal of Virology. December 1998. <http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/full/72/12/ 9421>.

“Pathogenesis”. Measles. <http://www.brown.edu/courses/bio_160/p rojects2000/MMR/MeaslesPathogenesis.htm>.

“Pathogenesis of Measles Virus Infections”. Virology Online. <http: //virology-online.com/viruses/MEASLES4.htm>.

“Virology – Chapter Four: RNA Virus Replication Strategies”. Microbiology and Immunology Online. <http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/m hunt/RNA-HO.htm>.

“Virus-Induced Immunosuppression”. NCBI. <http://www.ncbi.nlm .nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=pmd&part=A2876>.