About Measles 

• Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness, mostly affecting children.

Symptoms

• It is characterized by a prodrome of fever (as high as 105°F) and malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis,followed by a maculopapular rash
• The rash usually appears about 14 days after a person is exposed
•  Sometimes immunocompromised patients do not develop the rash.

Transmission

• • Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.
  • If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.

• Animals do not get or spread measles.

Measle vaccines

• The measles vaccine is usually given as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. This vaccine may also include the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine — MMRV vaccine. 
• Health care providers recommend that children receive the MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age, and again between 4 and 6 years of age — before entering school.
• The MMR vaccine’s two doses are 97% effective in preventing measles and protecting against it for life.

Measles Elimination

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines measles elimination as the absence of endemic measles virus transmission in a defined geographical area (e.g. region or country) for at least 12 months in the presence of a surveillance system that has been verified to be performing well.
• The Measles & Rubella Initiative, is a global program, aims at eliminating both these diseases.

Measures by India

• Measles vaccination falls under the Universal Immunization Programme.
• India has a target of eliminating measles by 2023.
• The Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign was launched by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is an ambitious phased vaccination campaign that intends to cover more than 40 crore children.

Why in news?

• The Centre has set up high-level teams to tackle the measles outbreak in Ranchi, Ahmedabad and Malappuram.
• The teams will assist the respective State Health Departments in instituting public health measures and facilitate operationalisation of requisite control and containment measures.

reference:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/centre-rushes-teams-to-help-contain-measles-outbreak/article66175007.ece