The origin of the current version of the measles virus has been narrowed down to be a close relative to the RPV virus (Furuse, Suzuki, & Oshitani, 2010). The RPV virus is a pathogen that primarily affects cattle (Furuse, Suzuki, & Oshitani, 2010). The ability of the RPV virus to transform into the MeV virus has to do with the relationship humans and cattle share (Furuse, Suzuki, & Oshitani, 2010). It is well documented that early accounts of measles cases arose in the 11th and 12th century (Furuse, Suzuki, & Oshitani, 2010). That is around the same time humans started to engage in livestock farming in the Middle East. The eating of the livestock allowed the virus to be transfer between the two species into an earlier form of today’s measles virus (Furuse, Suzuki, & Oshitani, 2010). Today’s measles virus is a much more advanced virus due to evolutionary changes and results in many deaths each year (Furuse, Suzuki, & Oshitani, 2010). Although current public systems in many countries have reduced the incidences of the virus, it still poses risks for future …show more content…
Many Americans are now vaccinated for the disease and do not actively worry about it. If history is any indicator of how quickly the virus mutates, it is only a matter of time before a new variant of the vaccine is required (Berg, Davis, Hanrahan, Mast, & Wassell, 1990). This is why revaccination is required at multiple ages to ensure that the vaccine is still effective. Children need to be vaccinated twice because the immune system is not yet able to defend against the virus (Berg, Davis, Hanrahan, Mast, & Wassell, 1990). It is extremely plausible that the virus will continue to mutate to the point, where a new version of the vaccine will be required (Berg, Davis, Hanrahan, Mast, & Wassell, 1990). To prevent the formation of an epidemic, it is important we continuously utilize epidemiological surveillance to monitor the various forms of the virus that are constantly being created (Berg, Davis, Hanrahan, Mast, & Wassell, 1990). Consistently monitoring and preventing outbreaks of measles better protects future populations against large