Originally published April 18, 2014

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U.S. researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in developing an oral drug to fight measles, a preventable disease which has seen a resurgence in rich countries because of the anti-vaccination movement.

Only primates contract the measles virus. Therefore, scientists at Emory University conducted experiments on ferrets infected with canine distemper, a virus that is similar to measles.

During the trial, the ferrets were given the drug called ERDRP-0519 orally for two weeks. Since virus is lifeless, the drug targets at halting the replication of the canine distemper virus instead.

According to New Scientist, the ferrets given the drug for three days lived and developed immunity. However, ferrets which were not given the dosage died.

If development is successful, the human measles drug will have to be taken before the onset of symptoms, which takes two weeks after contraction. Therefore, there should be sufficient time to protect people who come into contact with measles patient.

Taking the drug after symptoms develop will yield little result, as the virus will have stopped replication by that time.

Vaccination is the most effective form of protection against measles, which was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. The most obvious symptom is the rashes that cover the face and body of the infected.

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