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. David E. Volk 21:38, 5 May 2008 (CDT)