Precautions to take in order to avoid airborne measles

Measles is a dangerous disease that can sometimes even be fatal. Thanks to the MMR vaccine, measles has mostly been eliminated in North America but every year some cases are imported from abroad and can cause small outbreaks. Therefore, it is important to understand the best ways to protect oneself from measles. Visit your doctor during clinic hours to know how to avoid such airborne virus.

Vaccination is the first line of defense. Most people receive the MMR vaccine throughout their lives an, for the most part, this is highly effective, protecting the majority of people from the virus. The issue is, however, that not everyone can be vaccinated, the vaccine (albeit rarely) can fail, and some people refuse to be vaccinated. This means that, though it is the most important line of defense, vaccination alone is not enough to protect the public from measles.

Post-exposure prophylaxis is a good solution for those who have not been vaccinated but may have been exposed to the measles virus. This is accomplished by giving a dose of the MMR virus as soon as possible after exposure, often accompanied by a dose of immunoglobulin. This can help the body better mount a defense against the virus and either prevent infection or make the course of an infection less severe. Any suspected exposure in an immunocompromised or unvaccinated patient should be met with post-exposure prophylaxis.

In anywhere people gather, but especially in healthcare settings, is important to make sure that proper airborne virus protection measures are being taken when measles is suspected even if everyone but the patient is vaccinated. Because the vaccine can fail, it is important that a patient is isolated as much as possible. It is also extremely important that everyone wears disposable masks and practices proper hygiene. Areas where the patient has been should be disinfected and the patient should be discouraged from leaving the house until they are virus-free.