User:EthosNap/Measles morbillivirus

Vaccine
All current Measles vaccines are live attenuated and produced in chick embryo tissue culture. A Measles vaccine can be administered on its own in the form of subcutaneous injection, but is more commonly delivered as a combination vaccine with mumps and rubella (MMR). The vaccine must contain at least 1,000 TCID50, according to WHO. The duration of immunity after vaccination is lifelong.

All children over age one are recommended to get two doses of Measles vaccine, at least 4 weeks apart. One injection of vaccine after age one usually produces immunity, while two injections are almost completely effective, as studies have shown that 2% to 5% of children will not produce immunity after the first dose, while 99% of children will produce immunity after the second dose. Adults born in 1957 or later who have not been vaccinated, health care workers, travelers, students, and individuals exposed to a Measles outbreak are all recommended to get vaccinated for Measles as well.

Antivirals
ERDRP-0519 and Inosine pranobex are both antiviral drugs used to treat Measles. ERDRP-0519 is used experimentally as a viral RNA polymerase inhibitor, and Inosine pranobex is used as an immunostimulant. Vitamin A has been associated with a reduction in Measles mortality among children, but the mechanism for this is unknown.

Epidemiology
Before the Measles vaccine was produced in 1963, about 30 million cases of Measles and 2 million deaths occurred yearly around the globe. Since the introduction of the vaccine, cases have declined drastically. In the years 2000-2014, Measles mortality decreased by 79%, and in 2015, there were a reported 36 cases per million globally. Although current efforts for global vaccination have greatly lowered Measles cases, endemic transmission still continues around the world. Since the damage of epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract caused by the virus produces a cough reflex that spreads aerosols, transmission is high in closed settings with high contact rates. Health care centers, travel centers, large gatherings, households, and schools are all recognized hotspots for the transmission of Measles. In order to completely eliminate Measles worldwide, over 93% of the population must be vaccinated. Case-based surveillance is also vital for eradication.