1. The Measles Virus (Genus: Morbillivirus)
Single Stranded RNA
Negative sense
Enveloped
Endemic to humans

2. Transmission Spread through respiration Highly contagious
Symptoms include:
Fever
Cough
Conjunctivitis
Koplik’s spots
Rash

3. Morbillivirus Phylogeny
Most closely related to rinderpest virus in cattle
Suspected divergence in 11th-12th c. in communities living closely with cattle

4. “The Father of Modern Vaccines”
The Vaccine
Before the vaccine, 3-4 million cases in the US each year
Introduced 1963
MMR vaccine given at 18 months, then 4-5 years
Live, attenuated
Works well- 55 reported cases in 2012
John F. Enders
“The Father of Modern Vaccines”

5. In the US Globally Today only about 60 cases per year
Most acquired outside the country
Eliminated in North America in 2002
Still endemic in the developing world
Leading cause of vaccine-preventable death among children
20 mil cases, 164,000 deaths per year
Slight resurgence since 2009

6. Intervention
WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record shows estimated avoided mortalities to date

7. WHO regional map of elimination goals

8. Nectin-4 is necessary for infection of epithelia