Measles diagnosed with a student Other persons at the university could be infected

Measles case at the university: Students and staff may have been infected

Measles are still dismissed by some people as a harmless childhood disease. But the disease also affects adults, as shown by a recent case from Dresden. There, the measles virus was diagnosed in a student. Since the young woman has stayed in different rooms of the university, secondary illnesses are expected.

Highly contagious measles virus diagnosed

Over the past few months, health experts have repeatedly pointed to the growing number of cases of measles in Germany and called on the population to have their vaccination checked. Even a student of the Technical University (TU) Dresden has now been diagnosed with highly contagious measles virus. Because the young woman has stayed in different rooms of the university, secondary illnesses are expected. Students and university staff are advised to seek advice from a doctor.

Measles were diagnosed by a student of the TU Dresden. Because she spent two days at the university, other people may have been infected. Students and university staff should check their vaccine protection. (Image: pit24 / fotolia.com)

It is calculated with secondary diseases

According to a statement from the Dresden Health Department, a student of the TU Dresden has measles.

According to the information, the young woman attended lectures in various buildings of the university on Tuesday, January 8 and Wednesday, January 9, and had a meal at the Studentenwerk student cafeteria.

Since the illness broke out on Thursday, January 10, she is receiving medical treatment. The incubation period is eight to ten days.

As a result, follow-up illnesses are expected in the next few days, according to a statement by the authority published on the TU Dresden website.

Transmission by droplet infection

Measles are a highly contagious disease. According to the health department, the contact of non-immunized people with the virus is very likely to lead to illness.

Excluded are persons who have been vaccinated or who have had measles before.

The transfer takes place by droplet infection. When coughing, sneezing or talking, the pathogens get into the air and can spread the disease even over a few meters away.

Staying in a room may be sufficient, but the duration of the contact does not matter. Usually the viruses die in the air after a few hours.

Typical skin rash forms after four to seven days

The disease usually begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose, inflammation in the nasopharyngeal space and the conjunctiva, as well as white kalkspritzerartigen stains on the oral mucosa.

After three to seven days, the typical rash develops, which begins behind the ears and face, then spreads over the entire body and persists for four to seven days.

The rash is spotty, nodular and confluent; The soles of the feet and feet are usually spared, with time the red spots become darker.

When the skin rash subsides, it can lead to scaling of the skin.

Patients are contagious five days before and until four days after the onset of the rash. Patients should stay as quiet as possible during this time and not receive a visit.

Serious complications

Every tenth patient has complications. Infants and toddlers are at particular risk because they do not yet have sufficient immune protection.

Measles weaken the immune system for at least six weeks after the illness, so that other pathogens can be warded off worse.

This can lead to middle ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory and pneumonia as well as the dreaded meningitis, which occurs in 0.1 percent of cases and can kill fatal in ten to 20 percent of these cases.

An undergone measles disease leaves lifelong immunity.

Check vaccination status

The Dresden health authority advises when the typical disease characteristics, the family doctor to consult. In that case, the practice should be informed in advance of the suspicion in order to avoid contagion from other patients.

It also states that the measles vaccination status should be reviewed and, if necessary, refreshed.

Measles vaccinations are used as combination vaccines, the so-called measles-mumps-rubella vaccinations - often today in combination with a vaccine against chickenpox. Basically, two vaccinations are required to be fully protected.

In Germany, the measles vaccine is recommended for children from the eleventh month of life, for infants in a daycare from the ninth month.

And: "A one-time measles vaccine is generally recommended for all adults born after 1970 who have not been vaccinated against measles or whose immunization status is unclear," writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on his website.

"Those born before 1970 are likely to have already gone through measles," say the experts. (Ad)