7 Things Parents Need To Know About Measles

Since last fall, more than 5,000 cases of measles have been reported in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. Because the outbreak has persisted for more than 12 months, Canada has lost its measles elimination status, a status granted by the World Health Organization to countries where transmission of the virus has been interrupted for at least a year.

What does this mean for parents? Besides getting your kids immunized, here's what you need to know.

1. Measles spreads like wildfire

“Measles is one of the most contagious viruses we know,” says Dr. Vinita Dubey, associate medical officer of health for Toronto Public Health. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), measles can infect 90 percent of those exposed who are not immunized. It’s transmitted through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, through direct contact, or through mucus or saliva on things like shared cups or toys. If you suspect measles, don’t bring your child into a crowded health care office. “Instead, call ahead to ensure the doctor can make sure the office is empty, give your child a mask and protect staff,” says Dr. Dubey. If measles is diagnosed, your child should be kept home for four days after the rash appears to avoid spreading the illness to someone else, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

2. The telltale symptom is a red blotchy rash

It typically starts on the face and moves down the body. A fever, cough, runny nose and irritated eyes may also accompany the rash. A doctor can confirm the measles diagnosis with a blood test, urine specimen or nasal swab.

3. Most make a full recovery from measles, but it can be dangerous

The symptoms should go away in two to three weeks. However, according to the CDC, measles can lead to ear infections, diarrhea or pneumonia. It can occasionally cause complications like encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can then lead to seizures and even death. About one in 1,000 infected will die from it. In rare cases, those with a weakened immune system may be more vulnerable to complications.

4. You and your kids may need a booster

In Ontario, the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine is given around the first birthday, with a booster at age four to six years (in some provinces, the second dose is given at 18 months). So if you’re late on an annual checkup for a child in that age range, it’s time to make an appointment. With changes in vaccine schedules across provinces, it's always a good idea to double-check with your healthcare provider if you or your child is due for any doses.

Do adults need boosters? They might. If you were born after 1970, you should make sure you’ve received two doses of the MMR vaccine; many will require a booster because they never got their second dose. “If you’re not sure, it’s safe to get a booster as long as you didn’t get the first dose within the last month,” says Dr. Dubey. Pregnant women and those with a compromised immune system should not get the MMR vaccine.

5. Travelling? You might need to vaccinate your infant

“Measles is now circulating in places that never used to have it, like the United States,” says Dr. Dubey. “The Public Health Agency of Canada is now recommending that babies between six and 12 months of age who are travelling to a place where measles is circulating get the vaccine. A baby who is vaccinated earlier than 12 months will still need to get two more doses later.”

6. You can still get measles even if you’ve been immunized

No vaccine is 100 percent effective. That’s because while the shot itself offers good protection for most people, vaccines depend on herd immunity to be effective. High vaccination rates protect those who cannot be immunized, those who haven’t gotten their booster, and those whose bodies do not produce the optimal immune response. “If you’ve had one dose, that provides 85 percent protection; two doses receive 95 percent or more protection. But some people still have what we call vaccine failure,” says Dr. Dubey.

7. There is no cure for measles

Pain relievers can be used to reduce fever, but since measles is a virus, antibiotics and other medications won’t help. The body has to fight the virus on its own. The best protection against measles is to be vaccinated.