Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that typically causes a rash and fever. Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children under 5. Adults over 20 years of age, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems are also more likely to suffer from measles complications. Severe complications can include pneumonia (a serious lung infection), encephalitis (swelling of the brain), deafness, and other long-term consequences. In rare cases, measles can be deadly. About 1 in 5 people in the United States who get measles may be hospitalized.

Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 thanks to a highly effective vaccination program. However, the U.S. is at risk for losing this status due to ongoing outbreaks nationwide. Measles remains common in many parts of the world. Outbreaks can occur in the U.S. if measles is brought into the country by unvaccinated travelers, including both Americans and foreign visitors, who get sick while they are in other countries.

Measles typically starts with cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a fever that can get very high. Three to five days after these symptoms begin, a rash will begin to develop. The rash looks like tiny, red spots that start at the head and spread down to the rest of the body. If you think you or your child might have measles, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to 2 hours after that person has left. Infected people can spread measles to others four days before they have a measles rash and four days after the rash appears. Someone who has not had the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (called the MMR vaccine) or a prior infection is highly likely to get measles if they are exposed to the measles virus.

If you have been exposed to someone who has measles, you should immediately call your healthcare provider and let them know. Your healthcare provider can determine if you are immune and can make special arrangements to evaluate you without putting other patients or medical staff at risk.

If you are not immune to measles, MMR vaccine or a medicine called immune globulin may help reduce your risk of developing measles. Your healthcare provider can advise you about whether these are necessary.

If you are not immune to measles and do not get vaccine or immune globulin, you should stay home and isolate for 21 days to ensure that you do not get others sick.

The MMR vaccine is very safe and it is effective at preventing measles (as well as mumps and rubella). Most children don’t have any side effects from the MMR shot. If side effects do occur, they are usually mild and can include fever, pain or redness where the shot was given, or mild rash.

Scientists in the United States and other countries have carefully studied the MMR vaccine and have found no link between autism and the MMR vaccine.

If you are unsure whether you or your child has received the MMR vaccine, contact your healthcare provider or our immunization nurses to discuss your or your child’s immunization records. If you are a JCDHE client, we can provide you a copy of your immunization records. Send a request to our medical records department.