How is measles contracted

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can result in severe, sometimes permanent, complications including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. Measles is caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person and spreads easily through breathing, coughing, and sneezing. When someone with measles coughs, sneezes, or talks, infected droplets spray into the air where other people can inhale them or land on a surface, where they remain active and contagious for several hours.

If others breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears. Measles can be serious:. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , more than 1, individual cases of measles were confirmed in in 31 states—the largest number of cases since measles was eliminated in the US in Symptoms include rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever.

The annual number of confirmed measles cases in Europe has been in the thousands since and several countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK, experienced outbreaks in recent years.

Most measles outbreaks in Europe are the result of measles imported from another European country. Routine measles immunisation in childhood leads to widening intervals between epidemics during which the group of susceptible individuals builds up.

This results in a shift towards older children and young adults in the age distribution of cases during epidemics. Humans are the only natural host of the virus and measles meets the following criteria for a disease that can be eradicated: No animal or environmental reservoir. Accurate diagnostic tests are available. The measles vaccine is highly effective and safe. Measles transmission in large geographic areas has been demonstrated.

Global eradication of measles would occur when the last chain of transmission of measles virus is interrupted in every country. The report is available here. Mathematical models estimate the basic reproductive number at 12—18; that is the average number of secondary infections that follow a single introduction into a susceptible population. The virus is transmitted from person to person via respiratory droplets produced when sick people cough and sneeze.

Virus-containing droplets can remain in the air for several hours and the virus remains infectious on contaminated surfaces for up to two hours. Infected people are considered contagious from about five days before the onset of rash to four days afterwards. Measles is maximally contagious during the prodromal phase which lasts for 2—4 days and is characterised by intense coughing.

Invasion is through the respiratory epithelium and 2—3 days after exposure there is a primary viremia with replication in the inoculation site as well as in distant reticuloendothelial tissue.

On days 5—7, there is an intense secondary viremia of 4—7 days with replication in the skin, conjunctivae, respiratory tract and internal organs. Individuals at increased risk of measles include infants who are too young to be immunised, people in whom the vaccine has failed to induce immunity primary vaccine failure , and individuals who for medical, religious or other reasons have not been immunised.

Prevention Immunisation is the only effective preventive measure against acquiring measles. The live attenuated measles vaccine induces an immune response that is similar to naturally acquired immunity and can be boosted by challenge from wild or vaccine virus.

Maternal antibodies are the most common cause of primary vaccine failure. People who have written documentation that they had at least 2 doses of a measles-containing vaccine with both doses given in or later, after their first birthday, and at least 1 month apart are considered to have vaccine-based immunity to measles.

There are also presumptive criteria for immunity , meaning that people in these categories are probably but not definitely immune to measles:. The measles vaccine works extremely well. Getting a second dose really helps to increase the chance of protection. Read the measles vaccine fact sheet.

Find a vaccine provider in San Francisco. Children are routinely recommended to get the MMR vaccine measles, mumps, rubella at age months with a 2nd dose at age years. It is not necessary to wait until the 4th birthday, however — the 2nd dose can be given as soon as 28 days after the 1st. Adults born before are nearly always immune, having been exposed to measles during childhood.

Those born or later should make sure they have had at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine given at age 1 year or older. The following groups are recommended to have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine at age 1 year or older, with the 2 doses given at least 28 days apart:. The risk of catching measles is much higher when traveling internationally, due to all the large outbreaks of measles currently going on in many other countries. Before going on an international trip, all travelers age 12 months and older should ensure they have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine, given at least 28 days apart.

Reviewed by: Michelle P. Tellado, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Measles? Is Measles Contagious? How Do People Get Measles? How Is Measles Treated? There is no specific medical treatment for measles.

To help manage symptoms: give your child plenty of fluids encourage extra rest give a non-aspirin fever medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if a fever makes your child uncomfortable. Never give aspirin to a child who has a viral illness, as such use is linked to Reye syndrome.

In some cases, measles can lead to other problems, such as: ear infections croup diarrhea pneumonia encephalitis irritation and swelling of the brain Children with measles should be kept away from others for 4 days after their rash appears. How Long Does Measles Last? Can Measles Be Prevented? Why Is Vaccination Important?