Measles
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Measles is a viral, respiratory infection that causes rash and fever. It is very contagious. People with measles spread the virus by coughing or sneezing. You can become sick with measles by breathing in the virus or by touching an infected surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can live for up to 2 hours in the air, so you can get measles just by entering a room that an infected person was in up to 2 hours before.
Getting the measles vaccine is the best way to prevent measles.
The measles vaccine is safe and effective. You are considered vaccinated against measles if you have written proof of 2 valid doses of MMR vaccine, or other live, measles-containing vaccine.
You are also considered vaccinated against measles if you have a lab report of immunity or if you were born before 1957.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated should receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended for all children and adults. The doses should be given at least 28 days apart. Two doses of the measles vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus. One dose is about 93% effective.
Children should get their first MMR dose at 12 through 15 months old (as soon as possible during this time period). The second MMR dose may given as soon as one month after the first dose, but it is usually given between 4 and 6 years of age.
An early dose of MMR vaccine is recommended for children 6-11 months of age who will be traveling internationally or in an outbreak setting.
About 1 in 5 people who get measles will be hospitalized. Many people with measles will have complications such as diarrhea and ear infections. Serious complications include pneumonia and swelling of the brain (encephalitis). Additionally, measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage and low birth weigh infants. Nearly 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Symptoms
7-14 days and up to 21 days after a measles infection, symptoms include:
- high fever (may spike up to more than 104° F)
- cough
- runny nose
- red, watery eyes
3-5 days after symptoms begin a rash occurs:
- The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
- Small, raised bumps may also appear on the top of the flat red spots.
- The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
- When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104° F
A person with measles can pass it to others from 4 days before a rash appears and through the 4th day after the rash appears.
If you think you or your child have measles, stay home and call your health care provider about next steps. If you have measles, you could spread it to others, so it's best to call ahead before being seen. There is no treatment for measles, but acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to reduce fever. People with measles also need to rest and stay hydrated. They may need treatment for any complications they develop.
Additional Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Measles webpage
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Measles webpage
