According to the McDonough County Health Department, people who attended a volleyball match between the Bushnell and Macomb school teams may have been exposed to measles. An individual present at the match displayed all the characteristic symptoms of the disease – becoming the second confirmed case in the county within the space of a few weeks. A formal letter was subsequently sent to the school, made available to all parents, confirming the infection and setting out the steps to be taken to protect themselves and their children. This overview examines the risks and symptoms of the virus in greater detail, along with the key recommendations for preventing the disease.
Infection Risks and the Nature of the Virus
Measles is a viral disease transmitted through respiratory droplets – via coughing, sneezing or simply breathing in the presence of an infected person. The virus remains active in the body for up to two hours after infection and can persist on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room.
The incubation period ranges from 7 to 14 days, during which the infected individual may show no obvious symptoms yet remains capable of spreading the disease.
Principal Symptoms of Measles
The condition can be identified by a number of characteristic signs:
- cough;
- high temperature;
- runny nose;
- eye inflammation (conjunctivitis).
A distinctive rash also appears on the skin, which may spread to various parts of the body.
Guidance for Match Attendees
The Health Department has advised that all parents born after 1956 who were present at the match should confirm they have received two doses of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine. This does not apply to those who have previously had measles, as the illness confers natural immunity.
Anyone who has not received two doses of the MMR vaccine may contact the Department on 309-837-9951 to obtain advice and any necessary post-exposure prophylaxis.
The Situation in the County
The first confirmed measles case in McDonough County was recorded on 26 February 2014. According to official information from the Health Department, the infected individual was a young child who had been visiting the city of Macomb.
What to Know About the Virus
Measles outbreaks are most commonly associated with a decline in herd immunity. Medical professionals note that even a temporary lapse in vaccination coverage within individual communities is sufficient to produce localised clusters of infection – particularly in schools and other busy public settings.
The danger posed by the virus lies not only in its exceptionally high degree of contagion, but in the complications it can cause. The most frequently observed include:
- pneumonia;
- ear infections (otitis);
- respiratory complications;
- in rare cases, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
The greatest risk of such complications has been observed in immunocompromised individuals and in young children who have not received the required vaccine dose.
A further hazard is that a person infected with measles is already contagious several days before the characteristic rash appears. This makes situations involving large public gatherings especially significant from an epidemiological standpoint, as an infected individual may be in active contact with others without any awareness of carrying the virus.
In circumstances such as these, epidemiologists respond by intensifying surveillance in the relevant institutions and jurisdictions. Schools and healthcare facilities receive corresponding notifications requiring them to monitor contacts, whilst those at risk are informed of the need to watch for symptoms.