Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing- Task Two.docx

1
C228: Task Two
Community Outbreak
Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing: Task Two
Western Governor’s University
April 24 th , 2022
Ashley Olszewski

2
C228: Task Two
A. Outbreak Selection
Measles, also known as Rubeola, is an acute viral respiratory illness. Measles is one of the
most contagious infectious diseases. Children under 5 years of age, adults over the age of 20,
pregnant woman, and persons who have a compromised immune system are at high risk for
severe illness complications (CDC, 2020). Signs and symptoms typically appear 10-14 days after
initial exposure to the virus. Signs and symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny
nose, conjunctivitis, Koplik’s spots (white spots with bluish-white centers found on the inside of
the mouth and inner lining of the cheeks), and a skin rash typically red flat blotches that flow into
one another. (Mayo Clinic, 2020).
B. Description of Outbreak
The first written account of measles was written by a Persian doctor in the 9 th century. In
1912, measles became a nationally notifiable disease. In the first decade of reporting an average
of 6,000 deaths were reported each year. In 1962, the year before the vaccine, it is estimated 3-4
million people within the United States were infected with the measles each year. It is estimated
that all children got measles before the age of 15. In 2000 measles was declared eliminated from
the United States due to vaccination. Meaning for 12 months or longer there has been an absence
of endemic measles virus transmission (CDC, 2020).