In times of war, many infectious diseases are more likely to break out, especially measles, which is one of the most contagious diseases known to the world.
How dangerous is measles?
Measles is quickly transmitted from a sick person by airborne droplets, that is, when inhaling the smallest droplets of mucus that got into the air when the patient sneezes, coughs, or talks. 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with a sick person can become infected. The measles virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after a sick person has left the premises.
What can be the course of measles?
The incubation period (from the moment of exposure to the pathogen to the first symptoms) of the disease is on average 10–12 days. Then begins a period of illness with high fever, headache, runny nose, dry cough, enlarged lymph nodes, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes (lacrimation, photophobia, purulent discharge), often diarrhea and vomiting. On the fourth or fifth day of the disease, a red rash appears - first on the scalp and face, and later - on the whole body. Illness with symptoms lasts up to four weeks or longer.
What complications can measles cause?
Measles can be severe and often requires hospitalization regardless of age. Patients are contagious for a long time. The disease can cause pneumonia, ear infections (otitis media), inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), other serious complications, and disability and death. Long-term consequences of measles include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which develops 5-10 years after measles and always ends in death.
How to protect yourself from measles?
There are no drugs that would be effective and affordable and act on the measles virus. The only reliable protection against this dangerous disease is vaccination.
Pay attention! Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the so-called "general immunity" does NOT protect against measles!
Or maybe it's better to catch measles and have "natural immunity"?
If an unvaccinated child or an adult becomes infected and falls ill with measles, it is certain that it will develop natural immunity against the disease. However, this disease can have an extremely severe course and often requires hospitalization. Infection can cause complications (pneumonia, encephalitis, i.e. inflammation of the brain), lead to disability or death. And there can also be a weakening of immunity for months and even years - "immune amnesia".
Source: Ministry of Health
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