Measles Virus Life Cycle

Diseases : A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y Z
Measles Virus Life Cycle

Measles is a viral infection caused by the paramyxovirus, which is a single stranded gram negative RNA virus.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, running nose, red watery eyes and a characteristic red rash that covers the entire body. Measles is highly contagious and spreads by coming in contact with the secretions from the infected person's nose and mouth, or through aerosol transmission.The virus has an incubation period of around 14 days and the infected person is contagious for around 2 to 4 days before the rash appears and then 2 to 5 days after the rash appears. So, in total the infected person can spread the disease to other for a total of 4 to 9 days. It is believed that 90 percent of the family members with no immunity will end up contracting the disease. It is possible for the infected person to get measles rash in the upper respiratory tract.

The measles virus runs its course for around 2 weeks without usually causing any complications. During this period, the virus tends to kill cells in the body by joining together the cell membranes of the adjoining cells. The virus also replicates in a number of tissues, including those of the immune system and the nervous system. In addition, it enters the lymphatic system from where it is taken to the lymph nodes. In the lymph nodes, the virus replicates and then spreads to other lymph nodes of the body and also the spleen.

There is no cure for measles, and the disease has to get okay on its own. Usually people infected by the measles virus get okay with some rest and medication for the symptoms. However, once the person gets measles, he will be immune to the measles virus for the rest of his life.

More Articles :

Measles Virus Life Cycle