A woman from Washington State succumbed to complications due to measles. This has been the first death from the disease for 12 years.
Her death was confirmed by the state's health department on Thursday, July 2. The last fatality was recorded in 2003.
An outbreak of the respiratory disease led to the diagnosis of more than 10 people, over a half of whom lived in Clallam County. The health officials believed that the woman, whose name and other personal details remain withheld, may have contracted the disease in the area.
Nevertheless, they also believed that many factors caused her death. First, she didn't show the classic symptoms of measles including rashes. In fact, because she didn't have any, the measles was discovered only upon autopsy. Also, she was already suffering from various health issues, which could have impaired her immune system, allowing the infection to eventually further destroy her body. Her death was officially attributed to pneumonia due to measles.
In the meantime, those who have come in contact with the woman are believed to be at a very low or no risk since the incubation period of measles is two to three weeks. So far, none of them showed any symptoms of the disease.
Measles is one of the highly contagious diseases in the world. Caused by viruses that belong to Paramyxovirus family, it can easily spread by air and by direct contact with infected people. Once the virus is already in the body, it then attacks the mucus membranes. Thus, often the patient develops runny nose. Other signs and symptoms are rashes, fever, sore or red eyes, and cough.
When measles becomes out of hand or the virus is aggressive, it can lead to serious health risks including pneumonia and death. It can also cause inflammation of the brain as the virus threatens the tissues.
