Measles Causes - How is it Spread?

Alternative Name: Rubeola

Measles Menu

What is Measles?
What are the Causes of Measles? - How is it Spread?
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Measles?
Home Remedies for the Treatment of Measles.

The main cause of measles infection is a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. This virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult.

Measles is a very contagious disease. After developing infection with measles virus the person usually shows the symptoms in around 2 weeks. And, he or she becomes contagious four days prior to showing main measles symptoms.

The main form from which the virus transmits from one person to other is through infected person's coughs, sneezes or talks - infected droplets spray into the air, where other people can inhale them, and like this the infection is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person. Measles can also be passed by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons or through objects contaminated with the measles virus.

Risk factors for Infection of Measles

Measles is a highly contagious disease. Ninety percent of close contacts of the infected person who aren't immunized with measles vaccine will become infected.
Children with immunodeficiency due to HIV/AIDS, leukemia, alkylating agents, or corticosteroid therapy, regardless of immunization status - are at risk to measles.
If you are going to an area where measles is endemic or contact with travelers to endemic areas, then you may develop measles.
Infants who lose passive antibody prior to the age of routine immunization, may develop measles infection.

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