As you may have guessed, we’ve been getting a few questions on the measles lately. We’ve compiled the ones that have been most common, and provide answers for you below. Happy (or not so happy) reading!
What we know right now (as of 2/28/25):
- THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CONFIRMED CASE IN OUR REGION
- 146 total cases have been confirmed
- 116 of confirmed cases have been in children ages 0-17 years
- The VAST MAJORITY of cases are in unvaccinated individuals
- Counties affected: Dallam, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Terry, Yoakum
- Updates are provided by the Texas DSHS every Tuesday and Friday
What is measles?
- Measles is the most contagious infectious disease that exists in humans
- Every infected person will in turn infect another 12-18 susceptible people
- 9/10 susceptible individuals who are exposed will become infected
- Measles spreads via respiratory droplets from person-to-person contact, but can also be spread via droplets that have remained airborne
- Measles initially starts as a flu-like illness but you can also have redness of the eyes early on (unlike with the flu) and around day 4-5 a characteristic rash presents
- Patients also often have very distinct white spots in their mouths on the inside of their cheeks
- The rash STARTS AROUND THE HAIRLINE and spreads downward…another fairly unique characteristic of measles
- Pneumonia occurs in approximately 6% of cases and is the most common cause of measles-associated death
- Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) occurs in approximately 1:1,000 cases
- A RARE complication called Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (that’s a mouthful!), or SSPE, occurred in 1:100,000 cases in the US pre-vaccine era. It causes progressive neurologic deterioration and eventually death, but doesn’t begin until years after the measles infection
What about the “German measles”?
- The “German measles” is a different viral illness caused by the Rubella virus
- It is most often a self-limiting childhood illness, but can have devastating effects on a fetus when a mother acquires the infection during pregnancy
- Like the measles, it is also a vaccine preventable illness (MMR – measles, mumps, rubella vaccine)
Will my child be okay if she gets measles?
- Most likely, yes. ESPECIALLY if she is vaccinated
- Measles infection can occur in people with pre-existing immunity (acquired through vaccination), but is generally much milder and they are not highly contagious
- Having completed the MMR vaccine series gives you around 97% protection from acquiring the infection
- For those children with only one MMR vaccine, protection is estimated to be around 93%
Can’t I just treat it with Vitamin A?
- The treatment of measles is supportive (supporting the body with fever management, fluids, supplemental oxygen, antibiotics if secondary bacterial infections have set in, etc.)
- There is no specific antiviral for the treatment of measles
- YES, there is a role for vitamin A in certain settings:
- Vitamin A is among the most common micronutrient deficiencies worldwide but is RARE in the United States. So….thinking one can simply treat measles with vitamin A and the infection will surely be no big deal is a bit of an oversimplification. Said another way, it’s wrong.
- Vitamin A is recommended in severe measles cases in the US (meaning you’re hospitalized). The WHO recommends vitamin A in all cases…because they’re considering patients worldwide
- Some physicians in resource-rich countries may choose to give Vitamin A to patients with mild measles cases because the risk of harm is low
- How does it help….that’s really complicated and outside the scope of this now lengthy informational post
What precautions can be taken apart from being vaccinated?
- Regular cold/flu precautions such as covering cough/sneezes (a laughable recommendation when talking about 2 year olds, we understand)
- Washing your hands routinely
How do we protect babies under 6 months old who are not eligible for MMR vaccine early if it’s indicated, and how do we protect people who can’t get the MMR vaccine because they are immunocompromised and cannot receive live-virus vaccines?
- First, thank you for considering others in your community. That is very kind of you!
- Herd immunity: Higher vaccination rates in a community = less chance for spread. Plain and simple
- Avoid travel to high risk areas (areas of outbreak or countries
- Avoid crowded areas when possible if you are in a community that is a part of an outbreak
- Avoid travel to areas where there is a current outbreak or where the virus is endemic (certain countries around the world)
Question involving the MMR vaccination:
When is MMR routinely given?
- 12 months and 4 years of age
Should my child get the vaccine early?
- Currently the answer is NO. We do not have confirmed cases in our region
- Early administration will be recommended if we have 3 or more confirmed cases in our region
- Early administration can be started at 6 months of life, and the second dose can be given early if your child has not reached 4 years old
How can I vaccinate my child early?
- We will offer MMR vaccination early in the office if/when we reach the required number of cases in our region. Remember, as of now we have ZERO confirmed cases
- We will communicate this via social media and in the office
If my child ends up getting an early dose, does that mean they only need one more MMR?
- No, if early doses are administered, it is recommended that your child still follow the normal schedule, getting additional doses of MMR at 12mt and 4 yr of life
Is it safe to give my child an early MMR vaccine?
- Yes, in many countries where measles is endemic, MMR is started at 6 months of life because that is the time that a baby’s immunity that he received from his mother while in utero is beginning to diminish
I’m a parent who was fully vaccinated as a child, do I need a booster?
- MOST adults who were vaccinated as children have good immunity and do not need additional doses, but this is admittedly a more nuanced discussion. Your risk also may be individualized to your medical condition. We recommend consulting with your physician if we begin to have cases in our region.
Will my insurance pay for an early MMR?
- We understand this question, but also find it very hard to answer. Every insurance carrier is different, and medical reimbursement would baffle the likes of Albert Einstein himself. That being said, coverage will hopefully be good IF WE HAVE CASES IN OUR REGION
- Ultimately, you would have to ask that question of your insurance company directly if we find ourselves recommending early administration
Can I just get an early dose for my child if I’m willing/able to pay for it out of pocket?
- We understand the inclination to do so but are encourage families to understand that we are continuing to follow well established guidelines. We try to be evidence based both when we are recommending routine vaccines to those who are hesitant as well as in our current situation. This means that we will not be offering it until it is recommended
Will the MMR vaccine cause autism?
- NOPE!
Here’s an article with good info from the American Academy of Pediatrics that can be found over at their site, Healthychildren.org:
Healthy Children: How to Protect Your Children During a Measles Outbreak
If you’ve made it this far, well done. Things are changing quickly and we’re all hoping for a slow down in the case numbers next Tuesday when we get our next update from the Tx DSHS. Fingers crossed. Stay well. And as always, thank you for allowing us to care for your kids! We’re honored.
Pediatric Associates