Measles

The virus known as Measles There are many viruses today that at one time were a deadly disease, however because of advances in technology and vaccinations, we no longer give them a second thought. Prior to the discovery of a vaccination, the United States reported a total of over 50,000 cases of measles outbreaks each year with 450-500 cases resulting in death. (NCIRD) Since the disbursement of an effective vaccination, the measles has been almost eradicated in the United States; however it is still abundant in other countries around the world. (The college of physicians of Philadelphia) Is this something we think of when we are traveling? Is it possible for people to visit or immigrate to the United States carrying the disease with them? The measles virus can be dated as far back as 900 CE however many scientists believe it has always been with us. (David) The measles was frequently mistaken for smallpox and at the time it was believed that they were the same disease with varying but similar signs and symptoms. In 900ac Rhazes, an Arab physician, described measles in his medical notes differentiating smallpox and measles as two separate diseases, but were still thought to originate from the same cause. Since measles is an illness affecting mainly children over six months old, it was believed to be a “poison” passed to the child from the mother. Once a child developed the disease, he was believed to be rid of the “poison”. (Axton) The next known record of measles was in 1544, in “The Boke of Chyldren” a book written by Thomas Phaer. Phaer states that the two diseases were by one cause but passed not by the mother to the child, but from one infected person to another. (Jr) With this new understanding of the disease it became common practice for parents of an effected child to hang a red curtain in the house to warn others of the presence of the illness. Parents commonly brought their children to these houses to expose them to the illness much like the “pox

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