1. The Illness: Measles
The first symptoms of measles occur after a 10- to 14-day incubation
period that follows wild measles virus exposure from a measles-infected
person. A systematic review estimated the median incubation period to
be 12.5 days
The prodromal stage – looks like any other common respiratory
infection: onset of fever, malaise, conjunctivitis, runny nose, and cough
and lasts 2 to 4 days. The temperature rises over the next 4 days and
may reach as high as 40.6°C. (105F)
Sometimes, a blue-white plaque can appear on the inside cheek near the
molars. This is called a Koplik spot, and is believed to be the classic sign
of a measles infection. The Koplik spots are believed to occur in greater
than 70% of measles patients
The measles rash, which is a flat red rash, starts about 14 days after
exposure and spreads from the face down the trunk to the extremities.
Notably, it can blanch with pressure. During the next 3 to 4 days, the
rash fades in the order of its appearance and assumes a non-blanching
brownish appearance.
The most common complication is ear infection, pneumonia and
diarrhea. Brain encephalitis – called SSPE – is thought to be rare and
occur primarily in children who are Vitamin A deficient – and I would
add children who are Vitamin D and iodine deficit are also at risk.
2. The Vaccine: history
The attenuated Edmonston strain of measles was first discovered in
September 1958. It was passed human amnion cells 28 times followed
by 24 passages through monkey kidney cells to weaken, or attenuate,
the virus. It was first tested on 13 mentally retarded, institutionalized
residents of a state institution.. The measles vaccine was first licensed in
1963; mumps in 1967 and rubella in 1969. Here’s the link to that article,
published in 1962 in the Am Journal of Health - Nations Health in 1962:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1522581/