Infectious diseases specialists diagnose and treat infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, focusing on fevers, antibiotics, and vaccines.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Measles prevention relies on keeping immunity high in the community. Since the virus only infects humans, it can’t survive if most people are immune. This is called herd immunity. At Liv Hospital, prevention focuses on strong vaccination programs, quick action after exposure, and careful monitoring.
The cornerstone of prevention is the live-attenuated measles vaccine, typically administered as the combination MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) or MMRV (including Varicella/Chickenpox) vaccine.
Because measles spreads so easily, about 95% of people need to be vaccinated to stop outbreaks. If vaccination rates fall below this level—due to hesitancy, poor access, or health service problems—herd immunity is lost. The virus can then infect the small group of people who are not protected, causing large outbreaks. Public health teams work to find these gaps and run extra vaccination campaigns.
If a non-immune person is exposed to the measles virus, prevention is still possible if it is acted on immediately.
Immune Globulin (IG): People who cannot get the live vaccine—like pregnant women, babies under 6 months, or those with weak immune systems—can receive immune globulin, which contains antibodies from donated blood. If given within 6 days of exposure, it can prevent or lessen the severity of measles.
Hospitals are critical control points. Preventing nosocomial (hospital-acquired) transmission is a priority.
N95 Respirators: Standard masks are insufficient. Staff entering the room of a suspected measles patient must use fit-tested N95 respirators to filter out the aerosolized virus particles.
During an outbreak, control measures include “ring vaccination.” This means finding everyone who had contact with a confirmed case and making sure they are vaccinated. This forms a protective circle around the patient and stops the virus from spreading. Surveillance also means quickly reporting suspected cases to public health officials to track and control the outbreak.
While the vaccine is safe for the vast majority, there are specific groups who cannot receive the live vaccine and thus rely entirely on herd immunity for protection.
Allergies: Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or vaccine component (like gelatin or neomycin) is a contraindication. Note: Egg allergy is not a contraindication for the measles vaccine.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
While the first dose of the measles vaccine is very effective, it fails to generate immunity in about 7% of children. The second dose is not a “booster” in the traditional sense; rather, it is a safety net intended to catch that 7% who did not respond to the first dose. After two doses, protection rises to about 97%, ensuring almost everyone is protected.
No. This is one of the most thoroughly investigated topics in medical science. Numerous large-scale studies involving millions of children across multiple countries have found absolutely no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The original study that suggested a link was found to be fraudulent, was retracted, and the author lost his medical license. The vaccine is safe.
It is scarce, but possible. About 3 out of 100 people who get two doses of the measles vaccine might still get measles if exposed to the virus. However, these “breakthrough” cases are typically much milder than regular measles, and these individuals are less likely to spread the virus to others. The vaccine effectively prevents severe illness even in these rare cases.
If you are an adult and are unsure if you were vaccinated as a child, it is safe to get another dose of the MMR vaccine. There is no harm in getting an extra dose if you are already immune. Alternatively, a doctor can perform a simple blood test (titer) to check for measles antibodies to confirm if you are immune.
Measles was declared eliminated in many regions, but it is re-emerging primarily due to gaps in vaccination coverage. When vaccination rates dip below 95% due to misinformation, complacency, or access issues, the virus (often imported from other countries) can gain a foothold and spread rapidly through unimmunized pockets of the community.
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
