Measles virus

Measles is one of the most important infectious diseases of humans and has caused millions of deaths since its emergence thousands of years ago. Measles virus (MV) is one of the most highly contagious infectious pathogens, and measles outbreaks can occur in populations in which fewer than 10% of persons are susceptible. Infection of the endothelial cells of small vessels in the lamina propria and dermis during the secondary viremia precedes infection of the overlying epithelium, and inflammatory changes in and around these vessels are an integral part of the local pathology and characteristic rash. MV-specific immune responses are essential for recovery from measles and for the establishment of long-term immunity to disease, but they also play a role in the pathogenesis of measles and its complications. Acute postinfectious measles encephalomyelitis is the most common neurologic complication of measles. A second form of measles encephalitis, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), is a rare delayed complication of measles that occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 cases. The third form of measles encephalitis, measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE), is a progressive, generally fatal MV infection of the brain that occurs in immunocompromised patients. Different goals for measles control have been established, necessitating different vaccination strategies. Three broad goals can be defined: mortality reduction, regional elimination, and global eradication. Vitamin A is effective for the treatment of measles, and its administration has resulted in marked reductions in morbidity and mortality in hospitalized children with measles.