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Continuing professional development

Measles: symptoms, diagnosis,


management and prevention
PHC908 Gould D (2015) Measles: symptoms, diagnosis, management and prevention. Primary Health Care.
25, 1, 34-40. Date of submission: March 28 2014. Date of acceptance: April 25 2014.

Correspondence
Abstract gouldd@cardiff.ac.uk

Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases and less than 15 minutes’ exposure can result in Dinah Gould is professor
of nursing, Cardiff University,
infection for individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or who lack natural immunity. It is spread by minute Cardiff, Wales
aerosol droplets. Complications occur frequently and range from mild to life threatening. The prevention and
control of measles is taken seriously by the World Health Organization and public health authorities in the UK. Keywords
Public Health professionals should have a high level of awareness of measles and its risks, to help identify new Disease outbreaks, immunity,
measles, mumps, public health,
cases and implement measures to prevent and control spread.
public health nursing, rubella,
vaccination
MEASLES IS an acute, highly contagious infection ■ Explain to parents the side effects that can arise from
that affects mainly children, but can occur at any age. the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination. Conflict of interest
None declared
Young people who have not been fully vaccinated and ■ Discuss infection prevention and control in
individuals who do not have natural immunity are clinical settings. This article has been subject to
at greatest risk. Immunity following infection usually Now do time out 1. double-blind peer review and
checked using antiplagiarism
lasts for life.
Throughout 2012 and early 2013, the UK saw 1 Check your knowledge software

an increase in the number of confirmed cases. Author guidelines


In preparation for reading the article,
Time out

rcnpublishing.com/r/
Most of those affected were children and young adults,
go online to check your understanding of the phc-author-guidelines
who developed complications ranging from mild to
following terms: antibody, antigen, autism,
serious and life threatening. Even when recovery is
herd immunity, bacteria, encephalitis,
uneventful, measles can be frightening for parents as
epidemic, immunoglobulin, incidence, otitis
well as distressing for the individual, disrupting
media, outbreak, pneumonia, prodrome,
family life and resulting in time away from school
pyrexia, RNA, vaccination, virus.
and other activities.
Public Health England (PHE) recommends that health
professionals have a high level of awareness of measles The measles virus
and its risks to ensure public health measures can be Morbillivirus, which is a single-stranded, enveloped
implemented swiftly to prevent spread. ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus belonging to the
paramyxovirus family, is the cause of measles.
Aims and intended learning outcomes In old textbooks, it is sometimes called morbilli.
The aim of this article is to provide an overview of
measles: signs and symptoms, diagnosis, risk of Dissemination
complications, strategies for prevention and control, Measles is one of the most contagious infectious
and assessment and management of patients in diseases. The virus is spread in minute aerosol
community and hospital settings. droplets 1-5 µm in size, released by coughing, sneezing
After reading this article you should be able to: and spluttered conversation. The small droplets can
■ State the signs and symptoms of measles. remain suspended in air long after they have been shed
■ List the complications that can result. and transmission is by droplet inhalation. The virus is
■ Discuss the public health measures that can be so contagious that physical contact is unnecessary for
taken to prevent and control the spread of measles. infection to occur: it can be spread through contact

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Box 1 Signs and symptoms of measles Prodrome The prodromal period lasts about four days.
■ Rhinitis, sneezing. During this time, the individual develops a cough,
■ Conjunctivitis. runny nose and conjunctivitis, and may have
■ Mild sensitivity to light, with swelling of eyelids. diarrhoea and vomiting.
■ Mild to severe pyrexia.
■ Koplik’s spots: small grey-white spots appearing on Koplik’s spots These are small red spots, each with a
the mucus membranes lining the mouth and throat. bluish-white speck in the centre. They develop over the
■ Fatigue, irritability. mucous membranes lining the mouth and throat, and
■ Myalgia: generalised aches and pains. are most clearly seen opposite the molar teeth; they are
■ Poor appetite. detected in 60-70% of people affected (NHS Choices
■ Harsh, non-productive cough. 2013a). Koplik’s spots persist for two to three days,
■ Rash. usually until after the rash disappears.
■ Diarrhoea and vomiting (occasional).
Pyrexia Some individuals experience only mild pyrexia,
Box 2 Common mild complications of measles but for others temperature can peak as high as 40.6°C
and remain at this level for several days (NHS Choices
■ Conjunctivitis. 2013a). Temperature often falls in the early stages of
■ Laryngitis. measles, rising again when the rash appears.
■ Ear infection/earache.
■ Bronchitis. Rash The measles rash is still sometimes described as
■ Croup. morbiliform, reflecting the traditional name of the infection.
It is a red, itchy, maculopapular rash fading to brown
with oral and nasal secretions and it can survive for before it resolves (Figure 1). It first appears behind the
up to two hours on objects such as door handles and ears, spreading to other areas around the head and neck,
light switches. then down the trunk and legs. It appears within 2-4 days
People become infectious in the four-day prodromal of infection, continues to develop over 3-4 more days and
period before the appearance of the rash, when the gradually assumes a blotchy appearance as the individual
cause of the illness is usually unsuspected, increasing spots coalesce (NHS Choices 2013a). The skin sometimes
risk of transmission. They remain infectious until the rash desquamates (peels) as the rash disappears.
resolves. Immunity following infection or full vaccination
usually lasts for life. Complications
Most people recover uneventfully. About 10% develop
Epidemiology complications, which are mostly mild. However, severe,
Measles was once endemic in the UK (Hawker et al life-threatening side effects can occur, and it is estimated
2012). The number of cases depended on factors that that one in 5,000 cases is fatal (NHS Choices 2013b).
allowed the virus to multiply and the susceptibility
of the population. Before the introduction of MMR Mild complications Those most commonly associated
vaccination, outbreaks occurred cyclically every few with measles are listed in Box 2. Although they can
years, once the community had sufficiently large cohorts
of children lacking immunity. Between outbreaks, cases Figure 1 Measles rash
remained sporadic until there was a new cohort of
Science Photo Library

susceptible children.
Initially, the introduction of the MMR vaccine
prevented outbreaks of measles, however, in the
1990s and 2000s, public concern about the safety of
the combined vaccine resulted in poor uptake. This is
considered the reason for the increase in infections
reported in 2012 and early 2013.

Signs and symptoms


Box 1 lists the typical signs and symptoms. The incubation
period is seven to 18 days, most commonly 10-12.
The initial symptoms appear about ten days after
exposure to the virus. The rash usually appears after
four days and most people are ill for about 14 days.

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Continuing professional development

be distressing, they are not usually serious and as the rash appears. Accuracy declines after two weeks
resolve spontaneously. and the test is not reliable six weeks after onset.
Febrile convulsions (fits) are estimated to occur in
0.5% of cases. Although they are alarming for parents, Public health measures
they do not usually cause lasting health problems. At one Because the virus is so contagious, public health
time, it was thought there was an association between measures to prevent and control the spread of measles
a child having febrile convulsions and developing epilepsy, are important, even in countries where the incidence
however there is no evidence that this is the case. of the infection is low. The key measures are:
Children who have had measles can develop a squint if ■ MMR vaccination.
the virus particles affect the nerves or muscles serving ■ Surveillance and notification of cases.
the eye. There is also a risk of otitis media through ■ Control of established outbreaks.
secondary bacterial infection. ■ Isolation of infectious cases and suspected cases.
Complications are more likely for individuals who Now do time out 2.
experience severe infection, but occasionally previously
healthy people can develop either a severe infection 2 Public health management
or life-threatening complications. Pregnant women,
Access the Public Health England (2014)

Time out
babies younger than 12 months and people who are
website and look at the information provided
immunocompromised, such as those with HIV/AIDS or
about the public health management of
those undergoing chemotherapy, are at particular risk.
measles. From your reading, explain from
Fatality is highest for those younger than 12 months,
the perspective of public health to a junior
lowest for children aged between one and nine years,
colleague why early detection of one or more
increasing again for older children and young adults.
cases of measles is important.

Severe complications These tend to involve the


neurological and respiratory systems. Early detection enables public health authorities
to launch a vaccination campaign promptly and
Encephalitis Acute demyelinating encephalitis identify others at risk who would benefit from
(inflammation of the brain) is a rare and serious post-exposure prophylaxis (administration of human
complication of measles developing within 7-10 days natural immunoglobulin (HNIG) or vaccination).
of the appearance of the rash (NHS Choices 2013b). Those at risk include anybody who has not been fully
It is estimated to occur in 0.1% of cases and is thought vaccinated or who does not have natural immunity and,
to be an allergic reaction to the virus. as mentioned earlier, some groups are at particularly
The child becomes irritable and increasingly drowsy, high risk. For these, follow up and treatment are
may complain of headaches, may vomit and eventually particularly important.
lapse into unconsciousness. Mortality rate is 10-15% Advice in specific cases is available from public
and, of those who survive, 25% sustain severe brain health bodies. Awareness of local cases of measles
damage (NHS Choices 2013b). There is no treatment also provides an opportunity for the immune status of
other than supportive care. healthcare workers to be checked so they can be offered
vaccination if necessary.
Pneumonia Bronchopneumonia develops in 5% of cases,
giving rise to serious respiratory problems; it accounts Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine Vaccination for
for 56-86% of the mortality associated with measles measles as a single dose was introduced in the UK in
(NHS Choices 2013b). It usually occurs as a result of 1968. Uptake remained low until the combined MMR
secondary infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus or vaccine was introduced in 1988. The current MMR
secondary viral infection (herpes simplex or adenovirus). vaccine is a freeze-dried preparation containing live
Lobar pneumonia usually develops through secondary attenuated (weakened) viruses of all three. It is estimated
infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. to provide protection from measles for 90% of recipients
and protection from mumps and rubella for 95% (PHE
Diagnosis 2013a). The vaccine is thus highly effective, offering
It is usually possible to diagnose measles from clinical a high level of herd immunity that can be maintained
presentation, especially the typical rash and the through effective vaccination campaigns.
presence of Koplik’s spots. However, laboratory testing is European countries have set targets for the
undertaken for surveillance. Diagnosis is confirmed by the elimination of measles in line with recommendations
presence of antibodies specific to measles in a sample of from the World Health Organization (WHO) (2010),
saliva. Testing is most accurate if it takes place as soon with intensive surveillance designed to detect, investigate

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and confirm suspected cases. The original target date set Vaccination side effects Parents can be reassured that
for elimination in 2010 has not been met and has been most children remain well after receiving the MMR
rescheduled for this year (NHS Choices 2013c). vaccine, although occasionally there are mild side
effects. These are more likely to appear after the second
Immunisation schedule In the UK, immunisation to dose. Children sometimes develop mild pyrexia and
prevent measles is administered routinely as part of the a faint rash seven to ten days later. Symptoms persist for
two-dose MMR vaccine. The first dose is given when the a few days and are not a cause for concern.
child is aged between 12 and 13 months. Occasionally, Children occasionally develop mild pyrexia
vaccination is recommended before 12 months if the accompanied by a sore throat and joint pains up to
family lives in or is planning to visit a locality where the three weeks after vaccination, but these symptoms
incidence of measles is known to be high. The second resolve spontaneously.
dose is given between the ages of three years and In about 1% of cases, children develop swollen
four months and five years. This is recommended before salivary glands. This reaction occurs in response to the
the child starts school, at the same time other vaccinations mumps component of the vaccine. The swelling resolves
are given. Although a single dose of vaccine for measles is spontaneously. Febrile convulsions have been reported for
still available in the UK, it is not recommended. 0.1% of cases (NHS Choices 2013a, 2013b, 2013c).
Health workers in direct contact with patients should Now do time out 3.
receive the MMR vaccine when they start work, unless
they are already immune. 3 Vaccination risk
Reflecting on earlier sections of this article,
Time out

MMR controversy In 1998, Andrew Wakefield,


what advice would you give to parents
a gastroenterologist working at the Royal Free Hospital
concerning the risk of febrile convulsions
in London, claimed that administration of the combined
following MMR vaccination?
vaccine could trigger inflammatory bowel disease through
an adverse effect on the immune system and might also
be responsible for children developing autistic spectrum
disorder. The controversy continued until 2010, when it The risk of a child having a febrile convulsion in response
emerged Wakefield’s paper had been based on observations to infection with the measles virus is estimated at 0.5%
undertaken with only 12 children. His later claims were of cases (PHE 2013a), which is higher than the risk of
also subsequently discredited and further, rigorous research having a febrile convulsion as the result of vaccination,
failed to establish any link between MMR vaccination, so parents can be reassured about the safety of
bowel disorders or autism (Demicheli et al 2012). vaccination. Nevertheless, parents can be influenced
However, his claims were widely publicised and by the opinions of friends and family or the media,
exaggerated fears about the vaccine’s safety resulted sources that are not always accurate.
in poor uptake. In 2005, only 85% of children were fully Anxious parents should be advised that the following
vaccinated in England, compared with the previous norm are not contraindications for MMR vaccination:
of 100% (PHE 2013a). Wakefield has since been found ■ Family history of adverse reactions following MMR.
guilty of manipulating evidence, conflict of interests and ■ Previous infection with measles, mumps or rubella.
unethical conduct, and his name has been removed from ■ Asthma, eczema, hay fever or rhinitis.
the medical register. ■ Antibiotic treatment.
■ Treatment with topical or inhaled steroids.
Box 3 Contraindications for MMR vaccination ■ Being breastfed.
■ Being older than the age recommended in the
■ Severe local or generalised reaction to a previous
vaccination schedule.
dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
■ Allergy to eggs.
In cases of doubt, the opinion of a specialist
Parents can be reassured that minor illness without fever
paediatrician should be sought.
– such as otitis media, upper respiratory tract infection,
■ Allergy to neomycin or gelatine.
mild diarrhoea and vomiting – are not reasons for deferring
■ Untreated malignant disease.
vaccination. If a child has an acute illness with pyrexia,
■ Immunosuppression either through illness or
vaccination should be deferred until the child is well.
steroid therapy.
■ Within six months of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Contraindications The MMR vaccine is not recommended
■ Within three months of receiving blood products
for a minority of individuals (Box 3). Special consideration
such as immunoglobulin.
is necessary for children younger than six months who are
■ Pregnancy.
exposed to the risk of measles. If the mother had measles

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before the child was born, the child is usually immune Measles is one of a range of infectious conditions that can
because of protection by maternal antibodies in utero. result in pyrexia and general malaise, accompanied by
If the mother has not had measles, the child can be a rash. Individuals may be genuinely mistaken about the
protected by receiving an injection of HNIG that contains nature of a previous infection, especially one that occurred
antibodies. Protection is immediate, but short-term only. years ago when they were very young, and may assume
that they have had measles when they have not.
Surveillance Monitoring infection rates can detect A salivary test can be undertaken to identify the
changes in the baseline rate to identify trends and presence of measles-specific antibodies. If it is negative
permit rapid action to be undertaken to control after exposure to a case of measles, post-exposure
outbreaks (Thacker and Berkelman 1988). Enhanced prophylaxis can be offered.
surveillance for measles was introduced in the UK in If an outbreak occurs, it is managed by a specially
1994, organised through the Centre for Infections, convened outbreak control team. Members will include
which is responsible for reporting cases every month. specialists in health protection, education representatives
The reports are shared with the WHO and the European from the local authority, members of the school nursing
Surveillance Network. service and GPs. Representatives from the local NHS
Because of the high contagiousness of measles, acute trust are likely to include a microbiologist, infection
medical practitioners in the UK are required to notify control nurse and paediatrician.
the relevant public health authorities of all suspected
and actual cases by telephone. Written confirmation is Isolation of infectious cases PHE (2013a) has developed
required within three days. Standard letters from the guidelines for managing people with measles and
public health bodies are available to be sent to schools suspected infection in primary care and other settings.
and nurseries attended by children who have measles. These emphasise that staff employed in reception areas
should be aware that patients complaining of a rash
National catch-up programme This initiative was or pyrexia should be given appointments at the end of
announced by the PHE in April 2013 (NHS Choices clinic sessions so they encounter as few other patients
2013c). The aim was to offer MMR vaccination to as many as possible, and they should be asked to wait in rooms
previously unvaccinated 10-16 year olds as possible before away from the main reception areas.
the next school year to reduce the increasing number of Patients with measles should be excluded from
confirmed cases despite high vaccine uptake. In 2012, childcare settings, schools and workplaces for the first
94% of five year olds had received the initial vaccine five days after the appearance of the rash, when they
dose and 90% had received their second dose, yet there are most likely to be infectious. If hospital admission is
were 2,000 confirmed cases of measles that year; necessary, the infection control team should be contacted
by the end of March 2013, there were 587 confirmed in advance because full source isolation will be required.
cases (PHE 2013a). Of these, 20% were admitted to Now do time out 4.
hospital and 15 developed severe complications, mainly
pneumonia or meningitis (PHE 2013b). 4 Prevention
A similar campaign was launched in Wales (Public
Design a care plan to prevent the spread
Time out

Health Wales 2014) in response to a measles epidemic


of measles in the clinical setting where you
in the Swansea area between November 2012 and May
work. You could refer to Gould (2009).
2013. There were 1,219 confirmed cases, 88 hospital
admissions, and a man aged 25 years died from
pneumonia. Drop-in sessions were held in primary care
centres, schools and hospitals, and the MMR vaccine
was offered to 75,868 people. The outbreak was The chain of infection can be broken by admitting
declared over in July 2013. patients to single rooms and keeping the door shut.
However, Public Health Wales has estimated that there Personal protective clothing should always form part
are still 30,000 ten to 18 year olds in Wales who have of the standard infection, prevention and control
not been fully vaccinated and are at considerable risk. precautions for any patient. It is particularly important
when delivering care to patients with confirmed or
Control of established cases and outbreaks When a case suspected measles, because the virus is present in oral
of measles occurs, it is necessary to check the vaccination and nasal secretions and can survive for up to two hours
history of all those who have been in contact with the in the environment. Hand hygiene should be performed
index (first) case. Contacts are asked to provide their before and after patient contact (Gould 2009).
immunisation history or indicate whether they have natural Surgical masks do not provide effective protection
immunity. However, such accounts are not always reliable. against airborne infections because they are designed

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to reduce risks from respiratory droplets, not the much to drink cool drinks and eat ice lollies. If parents are
smaller droplet nuclei that carry the measles virus that aware that their child has not been fully vaccinated and
are more likely to reach the lower respiratory passages has been in contact with a case of measles, they are
(Fennelly and Nardell 1998). Filter masks are a better likely to be aware of the risks and be vigilant for
alternative, although evidence of their effectiveness symptoms. Education about the purpose of antibiotic
is lacking (Adal et al 1994). Patients should be treatment may be necessary: antibiotics are ineffective
encouraged to cover their noses and mouths when against viral infections and should be prescribed only if
coughing or sneezing, and to expectorate into special a secondary bacterial infection, such as a bacterial ear
disposable containers. infection or bacterial pneumonia, has developed.
Other infection prevention and control precautions
should include the following disposal and Fever in very young children
decontamination measures: This is one of the most common reasons for parents
■ Dealing with excreta. to take children to see a GP and the second most common
■ Laundry. reason for hospital admission (National Institute for
■ Clinical and other equipment. Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2013). Nurses who
■ Crockery and cutlery. work in primary care settings are likely to encounter
■ Cleaning. children under five years who have developed pyrexia.
■ Providing information for patients, visitors and The updated NICE (2013) guidelines are particularly
other staff. They should wear personal protective helpful in assessing and managing such children.
clothing and should wash and dry their hands These incorporate a traffic-light table to help health
carefully, before and after contact with patients. professionals identify serious illness so children can
receive the best care in the most appropriate settings.
Management Now do time out 5.
There is no cure for measles. However, recovery is
usually spontaneous once the immune system has 5 Up-to-date guidance
cleared the body of infection. Most patients can be
Access the updated guidelines on assessing
Time out

managed safely at home and measures can be used to


and managing fever in young children from
relieve symptoms, promote rest and reduce the distress
the National Institute for Health and Care
associated with febrile illness. Parents are advised to
Excellence (2013). How do these apply in the
seek help if they suspect that their child has measles
setting where you work?
because the case should be notified to the public
health authorities. Advice on websites designed for
parents (NHS Choices 2013d) suggests that, once it The NICE guidelines provide an invaluable resource for
has been established that their child has measles, any health professional whose work is likely to bring
they should seek help if: them in contact with preschool children face-to-face
■ Symptoms become worse. or remotely – for example, a helpline or telephone
■ The child’s temperature rises above 38°C or remains triage. The guidelines apply to children aged between
high once the rash has disappeared. four weeks and five years. Patient-centred care is
There are additional signs of illness, such as earache, emphasised to encourage attention to the individual
drowsiness or irritability, indicating the possibility of needs of children, parents and other carers, as is the
complications. importance of good communication to enable shared
Parents should be advised to keep children cool but decision making.
not cold, and prevent dehydration by encouraging them Routine assessment should include recording
temperatures (electronic temperature in the axilla,
Box 4 Safety net for assessing preschool children chemical dot thermometer in the axilla or infrared
tympanic thermometer), heart rates and respiratory
One or more of the following should be offered:
rates. The presence and absence of other symptoms
■ Verbal and/or written information for parents/
carers on warning symptoms and how to access are then assessed according to protocol, with a safety
further health care. net for the parent/carer (Box 4).
■ Follow-up appointment at a specific time and venue. Today, parents are likely to be aware that severe,
■ Liaison with other health professionals to ensure life-threatening infections can occur in childhood
the parent/carer has direct access to further (Purssell 2009). However, this is rare and in most
assessment, including out-of-hours provision. cases children will be rated as ‘green’ on the traffic
light system, meaning that they do not need hospital
(Adapted from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2013)
admission, or ‘amber’, meaning that it is safe for them

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Continuing professional development

Box 5 Advice on looking after a preschool child mild to life threatening. Recent upsurges in
with fever confirmed cases, attributed to low levels of vaccine
■ Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given to reduce uptake throughout the 1990s and early 2000s in
distress. These should be discontinued as soon as response to public concern about the safety of the
the child is no longer distressed. MMR vaccine, has imposed a burden on UK health
■ If the medication used does not help reduce services and resulted in considerable morbidity
distress, another can be tried; more than one type and at least one death.
of medication should not be given simultaneously. Nurses in primary care have an important role
■ Avoid giving antipyretic agents solely to reduce in the early identification of measles cases and the
temperature: these may adversely affect the implementation of public health measures required
long-term outcomes of illness. to prevent and control the spread of the infection.
Those in other settings may encounter children or young
(Adapted from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2013)
adults with suspected or confirmed measles, and they
to go home. Box 5 outlines advice for parents caring for need to be familiar with the precautions necessary
a preschool child with fever at home. to prevent spread.
Now do time out 6.
Health staff and vaccination
The MMR vaccination is offered routinely to health 6 Reflective account
professionals whose work is likely to bring them in direct
Now that you have finished the article,
Time out

contact with patients, but who have not previously been


you might want to consider writing
fully vaccinated and who do not have natural immunity.
a reflective account of 750-1,000 words.
If necessary, the vaccine should be administered before
Go to the Primary Health Care website at
the commencement of employment.
rcnpublishing.com/r/phc-reflective-account
to find out how to make a submission.
Measles in developing countries
Measles is a major health threat in developing countries,
where malnourishment places children at high risk of
developing complications through secondary infection, Find out more
and the mortality rate is high. Those suffering from
vitamin A deficiency are at risk of becoming blind. Resources suitable for patients and members
of the public:
Conclusion ■ NHS Choices, tinyurl.com/nhs-choices-measles
Measles is not a harmless childhood infection. ■ Patient.co.uk, tinyurl.com/patient-measles
Complications occur frequently and range from

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December 2 2014.) December 2 2014.)

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