Hand scratching an upper arm of. Skin showing a measles rash.

Measles

Measles is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Measles is spread easily from person to person through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. Measles is highly contagious. If one person has it, up to nine out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.

Symptoms

  • Measles symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus.
  • Symptoms start with a high fever (may spike to more than 104°)
  • Symptoms will usually include cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and rash.
  • Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth.
  • Three to five days after symptoms begin, a measles rash appears. The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. It then spreads down the neck and trunk (chest and back) of the body.

Measles FAQ

Do I need an MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine?

With measles cases popping up across the nation, you probably want to know that you and your family are safe from this disease.

You are considered immune from measles if:

  • you were born before 1957
  • you have laboratory evidence measles immunity
  • you have had measles in the past
  • you have received one or two doses of a measles vaccine. This includes the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine or MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) vaccine

MMR vaccines are recommended for:

  • children at 12-15 months and prior to kindergarten entry
  • Adults who were born after 1957, who have not been vaccinated previously, or cannot locate vaccine records
  • Adults who received measles vaccines between 1963-1967 (doses received may not have been effective)
  • Most adults who have received a single dose of a measles vaccine are considered protected. However, adults in higher risk groups (healthcare personnel, those traveling internationally) should receive two doses

How do I get vaccinated against measles?

The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR is a routine childhood vaccine. Young children usually receive their first MMR dose at 12-15 months and the second dose around kindergarten.

Vaccinated adults have usually received one or two doses of an MMR or MMRV vaccine. The first dose of MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective. The second dose is 97 percent effective.

Adults who are college students, health care workers, or are traveling internationally to a country with active measles, should make sure they have received two doses of MMR vaccine.

How do I know if I've been vaccinated?

To access your (or your child’s) vaccine records, you can contact your primary care doctor or your school. If you were vaccinated in Colorado, your vaccine records may be available in the CIIS Public Portal. If you were vaccinated in another state, CDC has information on how to access immunization records.

If you can’t find your records or haven’t been vaccinated, you are encouraged to get two doses of MMR vaccine, spaced four weeks apart. Those who only received a single shot of vaccine should get a booster shot.

How do I get measles?

Measles is very contagious. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been. This can happen even up to two hours after that person has left. Two doses of the MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective against measles. Most people who are vaccinated with the MMR or MMRV vaccine will be protected for life.

How serious is measles?

Measles isn’t just a little rash. Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.

Common complications from measles are:

  • Ear infections occur in about 1 out of every 10 children with measles.
  • Diarrhea is reported in less than 1 out of 10 people with measles.

Severe complications in children and adults

Some people may suffer from severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). They may need to be hospitalized and could die.

  • Hospitalization. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.
  • Pneumonia. As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
  • Encephalitis. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain). This can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
  • Death. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
  • Complications during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have not had the MMR vaccine, measles may cause birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby.

Long-term complications

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a very rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system. It results from a measles virus infection acquired earlier in life.

Who is most at risk?

Measles can be serious in all age groups. However, there are several groups that are more likely to suffer from measles complications:

  • Children younger than 5 years of age
  • Adults older than 20 years of age
  • Pregnant women
  • People with weakened immune systems, such as from leukemia or HIV infection

Do you have more questions about measles?

Learn more about measles, vaccination, treatment and exposure by reading this FAQ from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC: Questions About Measles

Additional Resources