Running head: Measles outbreak 1
Task 2
International Outbreak
Task 2
Western Governors University
International Outbreak
A. Measles also known as Rubeola is a contagious disease spread in the air when the infected
person coughs or sneezes. For up to two hours the virus can live in the air, even after the infected
person has left. The initial symptoms of measles appear as a common cold but then a ash forms
and spread throughout the body. The cause of death in measles is often encephalitis or swelling
of the brain. Now, we have a Measles vaccine which has led to a 99% reduction in Measles since
the vaccine program started in 1963. Before the start of the measles vaccine program 3-4 million
people were infected with the disease (CDC), June 2019
B. Description of a chosen international outbreak
Includes:
As stated above measles is a very contagious disease that can spread rapidly. However, it
is preventable as long as people continue to immunize against it. The Ohio measles outbreak of
2014 began when Amish missionaries traveled to the Philippines, contracted the measles virus
and brought it back to Ohio. In the Amish community it is very common to not be vaccinated so
this is why the missionaries were so susceptible to contracting the disease. Symptoms of measles
in the Philippines were first recognized in February 2013 and because people in the Philippines
