Measles vaccination--is a new strategy needed in Third World countries?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
10:39
Intranasal Administration of Recombinant Influenza Vaccines in Chimeric Mouse Models to Study Mucosal Immunity
Published on: June 25, 2015
Insights
Measles is a contagious childhood illness. Complications are rare in industrialized nations but severe, with high mortality rates, in developing countries.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Measles is a highly contagious viral illness.
- Typically contracted during childhood.
- Disease presentation and outcomes vary significantly by geographic region and socioeconomic status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the disparity in measles complications and mortality rates between industrialized nations and developing countries.
- To underscore the impact of measles on child health globally.
Main Methods:
- This is a descriptive analysis based on existing epidemiological data.
- No new data were collected; the study synthesizes information on measles outcomes.
Main Results:
- In industrialized nations, measles complications occur at a rate of 0.2-1 per 1000 cases.
- In developing countries, approximately 50% of infants contract measles within their first year.
- Mortality rates in developing countries can reach as high as 60%.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical difference in measles' impact based on a country's development status.
- Urgent public health interventions are needed to reduce measles morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
Measles is a highly contagious virus disease normally contracted in childhood. In industrialized nations, where children come into contact with the virus at school age, the complications are in the range of 0.2-1/1000 measles cases. In contrast, in the Third World countries, half the children become infected during their first year with mortality rates reaching as high as 60%.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
Overview
01:29Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
01:21Vaccines
Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the type of...
01:24Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...