Outline: Understanding Measles: Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control
Sara Smith
HLTH485
September 15, 2025
I. Describe the Agent
•Measles is caused by a virus from the Paramyxovirus family.
•This virus spreads at a rapid pace when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
•The virus can live on surfaces for a few hours, making it highly contagious.
•Vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles.
II. Describe the Condition
•Measles is an infectious disease that mostly affects children but can infect unvaccinated
adults. (WHO, 2024)
•According to the CDC 2025, symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes,
and a red, blotchy rash that usually starts on the face.
•Koplik spots are one of the symptoms and may appear inside the mouth, these spots
tend to be tiny white spots inside the mouth.
•Complications can include pneumonia, brain infection, and even death.
•According to the CDC, this chart shows confirmed cases first reported by rash from
Jan- April 2025.
III. Morbidity and Mortality
•Measles is still a significant public health problem around the world. In 2023, over 10
million people were infected globally, and around 150,000 died from the disease. (CDC,
2025)
•In the United States, there were 800 confirmed cases in 25 states between January and
April 2025.
•About one in five people with measles may require hospitalization.
IV. Distribution of the Health Problem
A. Host Characteristics
•Children under five years old are most often affected by measles. Both males and
females are equally at risk.
•Unvaccinated populations, including certain migrant and under-vaccinated
communities, have higher rates of infection.
•Marital status does not significantly affect risk, but some ethnic groups experience more
cases due to lower vaccination coverage, not speicfically due to ones ehtinicity.
•According to the CDC 2025, this map chart shows the confirmed measles cases in
Jan-April 2025.
B. Environmental Attributes
•Measles is more common in regions where vaccination coverage is low, such as your
rural or lower-income areas.
•Communities with lower incomes often have higher infection rates because of limited
access to healthcare.
•Crowded housing increases the spread of the virus due to being in closed corners with
possible un-vaccinated individuals.
•Certain occupations, such as healthcare workers and international travelers, also have
higher exposure risk.
C. Temporal Variation
•Measles cases have decreased over time because of widespread vaccination.
•According to the CDC 2025, outbreaks usually occur every two to four years in cycles.
Cases are more common in late winter and early spring.
•Areas with declining vaccination rates may experience sudden epidemic outbreaks.
V. Suggestions for Further Research
•Research is needed to better understand why some people refuse vaccination.
•Studies should focus on strategies to increase vaccination rates globally.
•Improved monitoring of outbreaks, especially in low-resource areas, can help prevent
widespread infection.
•Public health campaigns should be evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling
measles.
VI. Biblical Rationale
•The Bible emphasizes the importance of caring for our own health as well as the health
of others.
•1 Corinthians 6:19–20 teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should
be protected, which includes taking preventive measures like vaccination.
•Matthew 25:36 reminds us to visit and care for the sick, encouraging compassion and
action when others are suffering.
•Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens,” which can be applied to
preventing the spread of disease by protecting vulnerable populations and supporting
public health efforts.
•By following these principles, individuals and communities honor God while promoting
the well-being of others, demonstrating that faith and health practices can work
together to reduce illness and save lives.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 14). Measles cases surge
worldwide, infecting 10.3 million.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p1114measles-cases.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 10). Measles cases and
outbreaks. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, April 17). Measles update — United States,
January 1–April 17, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7414a1.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, May 23). Clinical overview of measles.
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html
World Health Organization. (2024, November 14). Measles.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles
World Health Organization. (2025, March 7). Expanding measles outbreak in the United States
and Latin America. https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00522.html
World Health Organization. (2025, April 28). Measles – Region of the Americas.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON565
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, July 14). Fast facts: Global measles.
https://www.cdc.gov/global-measles-vaccination/data-research/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 15). MMWR, Volume 70, Issue 41
— October 15, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/pdfs/mm7041-H.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, June 23). Evaluating epidemic trends (based
on Rt) | CFA. https://www.cdc.gov/forecast-outbreak-analytics/impact/evaluating-
ourepidemic-trend-assessments-based-on-rt-in-new-mexico.html
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