The recent measles outbreak that has sickened 36 people in Washington state and the Portland area in the last several weeks has left some adults wondering if it's necessary for them to get vaccinated.
Measles is generally thought of as a disease that children get. However, anyone who hasn't had measles or hasn't been vaccinated against it can get sick, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It is also one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases, around 9 in 10 people who are not vaccinated against the virus will contract the disease if they come in close contact with someone who is sick.
It’s unknown how many adults in the state may not have been vaccinated against measles, because the state only tracks immunizations in children up to age 18, said Jason Davis, a spokesman for Lane County Public Health.
Certain groups of people who have not been vaccinated against measles have a higher risk of complications, such as children older than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant women and people who have immune systems that do not function properly, according to the CDC.
Complications from the virus can include ear and eye infections, inflammation of the voice box, pneumonia, bronchitis and seizures caused by a fever. About one in 1,000 cases of measles can cause severe complications such as liver infection and infection of the brain or membranes surrounding the brain. Some of these infections can lead to brain damage, damage to a person’s vision or death.
Even those that recover from the virus in seemingly good health can have a rare, fatal complication, called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, show up months or years later. The condition happens when the measles virus infects the brain but does not cause immediate problems, according to the Merck Manual of Medical Information. The disease is very rare, occurring in one or two people per 1 million who have had measles, and on the decline in the U.S. and western Europe. It can cause mental deterioration, muscle jerks and seizures and sometimes blindness. People who get the disease usually die from pneumonia one to three years after symptoms start.
Adults who were born before 1957 are generally considered immune from measles and do not need to get the vaccine, said Jason Davis, a spokesman for the Lane County Public Health Department. This is because they grew up surrounded by the virus.
The first live measles vaccine wasn’t licensed until 1963, according to the CDC. In the decade before the vaccine was licensed, an average of 549,000 measles cases and 495 measles deaths were reported annually in the United States.
“It was a different viral world back then,” Davis said. If someone didn’t get measles as a kid they still were exposed to the virus through those who had gotten sick.
Once someone has had measles they cannot contract the disease again.
The two doses of the MMR — measles, mumps and rubella — vaccine that is used today are 97 percent effective at preventing the three diseases, according to the CDC.
If a person can’t remember if they got the MMR vaccine and they’re concerned about getting the disease, they should ask their doctor to check their medical records, Davis said. If their doctor doesn’t have the records and the person grew up in Oregon in the last couple decades, their doctor can search the state’s immunization database.
If a person still can’t find their immunization records, Davis suggested the person contact the university, college or elementary school they attended. Nearly all elementary schools and most colleges require students to show their immunization record before they can enroll in classes. Most schools keep a copy of this information in the student’s school record.
There is no harm in someone getting the MMR vaccine again, and it is effective for adults as well as children, Davis said.
Although, anyone with serious health problems should check with their doctor before getting the vaccine, especially those who have had allergic reactions to vaccines in the past.
“For most adults there are few risks (to getting the vaccine) and the benefits outweigh them. Patients may experience mild rash, fever, swollen glands or joint stiffness as well as injection site irritation,” Dr. Brenda Ormesher, a local PeaceHealth infectious disease specialist, stated in an email. The vaccine can even help those who already have been exposed to the measles virus, she said.
“Even if you have already been exposed to measles, getting the vaccine will still help, for up to 72 hours after that exposure,” Ormesher said.
She also recommended that people wash their hands with soap and water, avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth and avoid kissing, hugging or sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses with anyone who may be sick.
People can get the MMR vaccine from their primary care doctor, Ormesher said. Most local pharmacies, such as Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS, also offer the MMR vaccine.
Follow Suzanne on Twitter @SuzanneAdamsRG. Email sadams-ockrassa@registerguard.com
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