A WHO Factsheet

a. (2 marks points)

Measles is classified as a virus pathogen. The rubeola virus causes it. Another disease caused by the viral category of pathogen is rabies, which is caused by the rabies virus.

b. (3 points) Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be transmitted by direct or close physical contact with virus-infected throat and nasal secretions. Sneezing and coughing can potentially spread the measles virus. Measles is an example of a direct person-to-person transmission channel.

c. (5 points) In 2015, 134 200 people died from measles over the world.The global measles mortality rate is calculated as follows:

134 200 deaths ÷ 7 400 000 000 population 100 000 = 1.813513514

To one decimal place, the global measles mortality rate is 1.8 per 100 000 people.

d. (5 marks).

Signs are fever, and skin rash while muscle aches are symptoms. Fever can be measured and recorded while skin rash observed by the physician and therefore these are signs. A doctor cannot tell whether a patient has muscle ache unless he or she reports it; therefore it is a symptom.

e. (4 marks).

Three major groups of people are vulnerable to measles infections. These are the non-immune persons as well as unvaccinated young children and pregnant women. The disease is prominent in nations with weak health infrastructures, and low per capita incomes particularly the developing countries in parts of Asia and Africa.

f. (3 marks)

Prevention of the spread of measles is achieved through mass immunisation campaigns and routine measles vaccination especially in regions with high case and death rates due to this ailment. This strategy realises its beneficial effect in that it not only controls cases of measles but also is inexpensive, effective, and safe.

References

World Health Organization. (2017, July). WHO | Fact sheets: Infectious diseases. Available at: http://www.who.int/topics/infectious_diseases/factsheets/en/. Accessed on 22nd September 2017.