Symptoms will appear only 4-5 days after infection.
Measles/official site, Wellcome Collection
Just last month, the Ministry of Health reported two cases of measles in the north of the country - a child who was not vaccinated against the virus and an adult who became ill.
In both cases, no source of infection was identified and none of them had been abroad recently. The month before, the Ministry of Health informed about a measles patient who was on a flight from Dubai to Israel. Measles is a
highly contagious viral infection, which may have serious consequences, especially in young children, pregnant women and people with a damaged immune system.
There are serious and life-threatening complications associated with this disease such as: pneumonia, meningitis and ear infections. The symptoms of the disease include: fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a characteristic rash. The signs of the disease will usually appear between seven and 21 days after exposure to the virus.
Among the most contagious diseases
On the fourth or fifth day after the symptoms of the disease appear, a dark red rash appears on the skin.
Usually, the rash starts on the neck and gradually spreads to the face, body and limbs.
At first, the skin lesions are spotty and multiple and tend to coalesce into a rash that covers large areas of the body.
The rash starts to turn pale on the third day after its appearance and this is usually accompanied by an improvement in the patient's feeling.
The rash resembles the small, dense flowers of the sedge, hence the name of the disease.
Measles is among the most contagious infectious diseases.
It is caused by the measles virus (Measles virus) belonging to the Paramyxovirus family.
Measles is very easy to catch.
It is transmitted from person to person by spreading the virus into the environment during coughing, sneezing or contact with nasal secretions and phlegm.
It is also possible to get infected while staying in the patient's room, up to two hours after the patient has left the room.
Vaccines for "childhood diseases" in general and measles in particular, are essential in preventing the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.
The measles vaccine is usually given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
The vaccine is safe, effective and has been shown to greatly reduce the incidence of the disease.
For example, a person who is not vaccinated and is exposed to a measles patient, his chances of contracting the disease are 90 percent or more.
On the other hand, a person vaccinated against measles after receiving both doses is 97 percent immune from contracting the disease.
It must be remembered that the vaccine protects only after two weeks from the date of receiving it, and continues to protect us for decades to come.
The measles vaccine consists of a live attenuated virus that is given by injection under the skin.
Prof. Yosef Peres/courtesy of those photographed
In fact, the vaccine not only protects the individual receiving the vaccine, but also helps create herd immunity.
This means that when a large part of the population is vaccinated, it helps against the spread of the disease, while protecting those who cannot be vaccinated due to age, certain medical conditions or other reasons.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the entire population to receive these necessary vaccinations, in order to protect themselves and the communities in which they live against preventable diseases, such as measles.
And if you still have concerns or questions about the vaccinations, it is always better to consult a medical professional for accurate information and guidance and less to rely on unreliable information found mainly on social media.
Prof. Yosef Peres is the president of the "For You" organization led by the president's son-in-law Rabbi Yossi Arablich, and the former director of Schneider Hospital.
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