Talk:Measles

Virus?

The introduction says that measles is a disease caused by a virus. Shouldn't the page therefore just be called measles? John Stephenson 04:38, 23 April 2008 (CDT)

Good point. The virus, and the disease that causes it, are different - although very closely linked - things. Do we need separate articles, though, or just one - and if only one, no idea which is the right name, though! J. Noel Chiappa 14:35, 23 April 2008 (CDT)

For some diseases, the microbe does not necessarily imply the disease. However, measles virus and measles are inextricably linked. I don't think we need two pages. How about using measles and a redirect for measles virus (or vice versa)? --John J. Dennehy 14:53, 23 April 2008 (CDT)

This conversation has occured in several places (West Nile virus, Dengue fever). To me, measles is shorthand notation for measles virus infection, or an infection of/from the measles virus. I personally prefer to name it after the virus, with a redirect from the shorthand version (ie measles), but others have disagreed. However, some viruses cause more than one disease, such as the typical chicken-pox illness versus the later manifestation shingles, which is also caused by the virus later in life. To my knowledge, this question is still unanswered. I belief I sent a note to the Health Sciences group but no one wanted to chime in on the matter. The final answer may be to have separate

measles (disease) and measles virus pages, and so on for every virus, because there is alot of information available for most viruses and this might satisfy the most people. Perhaps the medical aspects and the virus really do deserve seperate articles? Now I don't know what I like better :) David E. Volk 21:38, 5 May 2008 (CDT)