An Infectious Viral Disease

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A measles outbreak in 1592 in the island of Cuba killed approximately two-thirds of the native population who had previously survived smallpox. A couple of years later half the indigenous population of Honduras died.

Over the last 150 years estimates place the total global measles death toll at 200 million people. One fifth of Hawaii's population died in the 1850s from measles.

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What are the complications of measles?

Complications from measles are fairly common but worse for patients who have weak immune systems, those with vitamin deficiency, and very young children.

Adults over age of 20 are more likely to have complications than healthy children over the age of 5.

About 20% of people who develop measles have some kind of complication, which may include:

* Diarrhea.

* Vomiting.

* Eye infection.

* Laryngitis and bronchitis - About 4% of people with measles have difficulties breathing.

* Inner ear infection

* Fits caused by fever caused by fever. Occurs in 1 in 200 cases. May be alarming, but children usually make a full recovery.

* Pneumonia

* If pregnant, can cause miscarriage

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Prevention of measles

People who have already had measles are immune and will not get it again - cases of re-infection are extremely rare. If you were born or living in the USA before 1957 you will be immune, experts say.

For people who are not immune there is the measles vaccine.

Q: How big a problem is measles? What is being done to prevent it?

A: Measles is a highly infectious disease. In developing countries, 1-5% of children with measles die from complications of the disease. This death rate may be as high as 25% among people who are displaced, malnourished and have poor access to health care. The disease can also lead to severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea and blindness.

However there is great reason for optimism, as recent improved...