Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It can cause serious health complications at the time of infection, as well as later in life. Measles starts with fever, followed by a cough, runny nose and watery eyes. A rash then breaks out, with red spots appearing first on the head and then spreading to the rest of the body.

Worse than just a cold or the flu, measles is a serious disease that can be prevented with a vaccine.

Who is at risk of measles?

Anyone who is not vaccinated against measles is at risk. Once a widespread illness, measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000 thanks to vaccines. However, measles has surged among unvaccinated people. With a recent resurgence of people with measles throughout the United States, it is important to make sure that everyone in your family is protected against measles with two doses of the MMR vaccine for most people. 

Measles symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms of measles include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Koplik’s spots (small red rings with blue-white centers that appear inside the mouth)
• Rash (typically appears between days three and five after the onset of symptoms, with red bumps appearing first on the forehead, then moving over the face, neck and body and down to the arms and feet) 

Complications

Measles can result in serious health complications. Some people, especially children younger than 5 years of age, are at higher risk of experiencing complications from measles, which can include: 

• Dehydration
• Ear infections
• Diarrhea
• In serious cases, pneumonia and encephalitis

Measles is an extremely contagious virus. If one person has it, 9 out of 10 people nearby will also become infected if they are not protected by vaccination. Someone who is unvaccinated can catch measles just from passing through the same room that an infected person was in hours earlier.

Here’s how it works:

• The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of an infected person. It can then spread to others through coughing and sneezing. 
• The measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace where a measles infected person coughed or sneezed.
• People usually become infected by breathing contaminated air. In rare cases, they may become infected by touching droplets containing measles virus on an infected surface and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. 
• Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears.  

How can I help stop the spread of measles?

Because measles is so contagious, the best way to stop the spread is to make sure everyone in your family is vaccinated. The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The MMR and MMRV vaccines are proven safe and effective. For the best protection, two doses of the vaccine are recommended after 12 months of age.

Call your child’s pediatrician immediately if you suspect your child:

• Is not immunized against measles.
• Has been exposed to someone with measles.
• May have measles.

If you suspect your child may have measles, contact your child’s pediatrician immediately. To prevent spreading the disease to other people, it’s important to let your child’s pediatrician know about your measles concerns by contacting their office before arriving for care. Keep your child home from school or day care as directed by your child’s pediatrician or by the health department.

How can I protect my newborn from measles?

Most mothers who are immunized against measles pass protection against measles to their infants who are born at term, but that protection begins to disappear in the first few months of an infant’s life.

During this time, make sure friends, caregivers and family members are up to date on their vaccinations.

How can I protect my young child from measles?

Immunization for measles is necessary when a child is between 12 and 15 months old. About 93-95% of the people who receive a single dose will develop protection after one dose. 

“Making sure that your child receives an MMR vaccine is the best way to protect your child from measles,” says Andi Shane, MD, MPH, System Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

An additional dose is then given to a child around 4 to 6 years of age. This second dose is needed to increase protection for the few people who do not have a response to their first dose. In addition to protecting against measles, the MMR vaccine protects against mumps and rubella.

Vaccines prevent many harmful diseases and are safe and effective. Discuss any vaccine-related decisions with your child’s pediatrician.