Sudden North American Measles Outbreak: Where Are They Coming From?
How can you protect yourself?
North America has been renowned for its low measles rates. But suddenly we are receiving media attention for dangerous outbreaks of the virus! What happened? What should you be doing to protect yourself?
If you live in North America, chances are you'll be surprised to find out that every year there are over 1 million cases of measles in the world. For the past few years, Canada has only contributed an average of 11 yearly cases to that number. This astounding news demonstrates one of the strengths of our health care program…effective immunizations.
However, abrupt outbreaks in Quebec are breaking our measles-free trend. From January 2011 until now, Canada has been exposed to 254 cases of the measles. That's 46 times more often than our usual 11 per year!
We spent years uninfected by measles. Where did it come from?
It appears as though the virus was brought back to Canada from recent vacations to France.
What is the root of this issue?
A traveller with an improperly protected immune system.
Most Canadians have a boosted resistance to this virus because of our immunization program. However, the same cannot be said for most other countries. This raises the risk of exposure and contraction of measles while travelling.
As it turns out measles can be contracted by people who travel outside of North America. Although the vaccinations are extremely effective, if the immune system is weak enough measles can still affect an immunized body.
Although Quebec has been pinpointed as an especially large outbreak, Canada isn't the only country whose health has recently been jeopardized by the measles. The United States have also experienced a much higher prevalence of the virus. The American Centers for Disease Control has reported the highest number of measles outbreaks in 5 years.
With an incubation period of 10 days, people could be infected and contagious with measles before they even realize. About 10 days after exposure to the measles virus, the symptoms become noticeable. These include coughing, fever, Koplik spots (white spots appearing the inside of the mouth), and runny nose.
In Canada, there is generally one death for every 3,000 cases of measles. Death by measles occurs only when the body loses control of the disease. Thankfully, most North Americans have been immunized against measles. However, the full extent of damage and control of measles depends on the strength of a person's immune system. If you want to attempt FULL protection from the measles, you will need your body strong and well supplied.
This is particularly important if you are a traveller.
Because of the immunization project, most North Americans have forgotten about measles. Now more than ever it is important to prepare our bodies from the onset of this dangerous virus.
You have a responsibility to your country to be vaccinated. You have a responsibility to yourself to keep your immune system as strong as it can be.
Stop the spread of measles. Start helping your immune system today.
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