Measles Information

Symptoms

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Common measles symptoms include:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104°F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red and/or watery eyes
• Rash (breaks out 3-5 days after symptoms begin)

Measles can cause serious health complications including:

• Ear infections
• Severe diarrhea and related dehydration
• Blindness
• Severe breathing problems including pneumonia
• Encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage)

How Does It Spread?

Measles is very contagious, and 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, even up to 2 hours after that person has left. 

If one person has measles, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.

The best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.

Prevent measles by talking to your healthcare provider about the MMR vaccine, especially if you are planning to travel.

If Exposed To Measles

If you have been notified or believe you have been exposed to measles, there may be treatment and quarantine precautions recommended, depending on your personal circumstances: 

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP):

If you or your child was exposed to measles and is not fully vaccinated or do not know your immunity status, there is a short window after the exposure event to get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to help protect against infection. PEP for measles may include a dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, or antibodies against measles (also called immune globulin or “IG”). The sooner PEP is administered after exposure, the more effective the treatment will be at reducing the risk of infection and complications.  Pregnant people or immunocompromised individuals have slightly different guidelines. Decisions regarding post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are made on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with clinical guidelines and at the discretion of a licensed healthcare provider, based on the individual’s exposure risk, vaccination history, and health status.

Quarantine:

Quarantine may or may not be recommended depending on immunity status. Measles has a long incubation period of 11 to 12 days on average from the time of exposure to onset of symptoms. Because of the long incubation period, the quarantine period is 21 days after the last exposure. Someone with measles is contagious from four days before a rash appears through the end of the fourth day after the onset of the rash.  Limiting interaction with others by staying home and avoiding social situations is a critical step in reducing the risk of spreading this highly contagious disease.

Whether or not you are aware of having been exposed to measles, if you develop cold-like symptoms with a fever and/or rash as described, please contact your healthcare provider before going to the health care facility for care. They can take appropriate precautions to safely receive you and minimize potential exposure to others.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there are no specific antiretroviral therapies available to treat measles. So if you are unvaccinated and contract the disease there aren’t many options available except to isolate yourself and endure the illness until it resolves. Treatment includes bed rest, fluids, and medicine for fever and headache. Antibiotics do not help with viral infections and will not cure measles or prevent the disease. For children who contract measles, the World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends Vitamin A, which has been associated with decreased morbidity and mortality. Vitamin A is not a substitute for vaccination, and the recommendation is primarily focused on reducing the risk of Vitamin A deficiency, which can be common in under-resourced areas. Giving your child too much Vitamin A can cause vitamin toxicity and will not cure measles, so do not give more Vitamin A than is recommended by your medical provider. 

Vaccine Information

The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children may get the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead, which protects against chickenpox too.

Most people who are vaccinated with MMR & MMRV will be protected for life.

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