From the Guidelines
If you've been exposed to measles, you should immediately contact your healthcare provider and take prompt action to prevent infection and further transmission, as measles is highly contagious and can be serious, particularly for young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems. The risks of measles exposure include pneumonia, blindness, brain damage, and even death, with over 90% of unimmunized people exposed to the virus developing the disease 1. The symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash that typically appears 7-14 days after exposure. Measles spreads through respiratory droplets and can remain airborne for up to two hours.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
If you're unvaccinated and were exposed within the last 72 hours, you can receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as post-exposure prophylaxis, which can prevent or modify the disease 1. For those who cannot receive the vaccine, such as pregnant women, infants under 6 months, and immunocompromised individuals, immune globulin (IG) can be given within 6 days of exposure, with a standard dose of 0.25 mL/kg of body weight given intramuscularly 1.
Prevention and Control
Prevention and control of measles transmission are crucial, and vaccination is the main means of preventing measles, mumps, and rubella virus infections and their related complications 1. Maintaining high measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination coverage is important to prevent importation of measles and rubella and the resurgence of mumps. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the use of MMR vaccine, including the newly approved PRIORIX vaccine, for the prevention of measles, mumps, and rubella in persons aged ≥12 months 1.
Key Considerations
Key considerations for individuals exposed to measles include:
- Immediately contacting their healthcare provider
- Receiving post-exposure prophylaxis, such as MMR vaccine or IG, if eligible
- Self-isolating to prevent potentially spreading the virus to others
- Watching for symptoms of measles, including high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash
- Understanding the risks and complications of measles, particularly for young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
From the Research
Risks of Measles Exposure
- Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection with significant airborne transmission risk in hospitals and other settings 2
- Individuals at high risk of complications from measles include infants under 6 months of age, immunocompromised patients, and pregnant women 3, 4, 5
- Measles can lead to severe disease, particularly in susceptible individuals who are not immunized or have weakened immune systems 3, 4, 6, 5
Symptoms of Measles
- The symptoms of measles are not explicitly described in the provided studies, but the risks and complications associated with measles exposure are discussed 3, 4, 6, 5, 2
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for Measles
- PEP with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or immune globulin (IG) is recommended for individuals exposed to measles who are not immune 3, 4, 6, 5, 2
- The effectiveness of MMR PEP is estimated to be around 83.4% 6, while IG PEP is estimated to be around 100% effective in preventing measles 6
- The recommended dosage and route of administration for IG PEP vary depending on the individual's age, weight, and immune status 3, 4, 5
- PEP should be administered as soon as possible after exposure to measles, preferably within 72 hours for MMR vaccine and within 6 days for IG 3, 4, 5