Editor's note: The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Measles are very contagious and dangerous – but it can also be prevented.
Thanks to a very coordinated effort to provide measles, mumps and measles vaccine (MMR), the United States was announced in 2000.
However, increasing numbers of measles infections – driven by wrong information about vaccines and reducing vaccination rates in some societies – have been reported over the past five years.
As of mid -May 2025, there were more than 1,000 new measles and three measles -related deaths in the United States, bypassing 285 cases reported throughout 2024, according to public health statistics.
As a specialist in infectious diseases at Uchicago Medicine, I want to share important facts about the prevention of measles that can help you maintain your safety and loved ones.
What is measles – and what are the symptoms and complications?
Measles are an infection caused by a virus that primarily affects unpleasant children and immune adults. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, liquid nose, rash and red eyes (“pink eye” or conjunctivitis), usually appear eight to 12 days after the initial exposure to the virus.
The distinctive measles rash appears three to five days after the appearance of the first symptoms. Additional complications can occur, such as ear infections, pneumonia and diarrhea.
One of the dangerous complications of the group of acute encephalitis, or encephalitis, which can lead to permanent brain damage in one in every 1000 cases. In the United States, death occurs from nervous complications or the respiratory system of the group in one to three in every 1000 cases.
In addition, there are late complications called SSPE. This rare, tanning and dead central nervous system can occur after seven to 11 years of primary measles, with the highest rates in children with two years ago.
What is the extent of measles and what is the period of the infectious?
Measles is one of the most extremely infectious infections. It spreads through direct contact with infectious drops or through air. Patients with measles infection are infectious four days before the rash within four days after the appearance of the rash.
If you are not vaccinated or immunity, there are 9 out of 10 chances, you will be exposed to the disease if you suffer – even from sharing the same air, shortly or after hours, with someone who has measles.
How effective is the measles vaccine? Can I get measles if I was vaccinated?
More than 97 % of people receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine are developing immunity to measles. The second dose of the vaccine protects those who fail to respond to their initial dose.
While it is possible to contract measles after two doses of the vaccine, it is very uncommon. More importantly, immunization is not harmful to those who suffer from existing measles immunity and people immunized virus virus virus.
When should children be vaccinated for measles?
Children must be vaccinated after their first birthday and an additional dose of the MMR vaccine before entering the kindergarten (when they are 4 to 6 years old). The second dose provides additional protection for about 5 % of people who do not respond to the first dose.
Looking at the risk of measles associated with international travel, a first dose can be given early at the age of 6 months for infants who will travel abroad. However, this does not replace the need for additional MMR doses managed in the traditional time points of more than one year of age and 4 to 6 years of age.
Should adults be vaccinated for measles?
Adults are considered immune from measles if they have a documentation of at least one dose of the MMR vaccine in or after their first birthday, two doses of the MMR vaccine for individuals at a significant danger, laboratory guides for the group, or laboratory assertion of measles infection, or birth before 1957.
Adults who do not meet these standards should be vaccinated with at least two doses of the MMR vaccine – unless their doctor recommends it due to special circumstances, such as the highly hacked immunity.
During measles outbreaks, health departments may make additional recommendations to protect their societies, including the second dose of MMR for adults who have received only one dose previously. Currently, it is not recommended for a third dose of the mmr vaccine during the measles outbreak.
How dangerous is measles?
Fortunately, for most people, measles do not threaten life-but the problem is that you cannot predict who will have a serious disease. Three out of every 1,000 people will die of measles. For those who suffer from weakness due to the previous conditions that affect their immune system, measles can be more dangerous.
However, if everyone is vaccinated, no one will die. Before the vaccine, there were up to 500 American deaths each year of measles, and now they could be fully prevented.
With vaccine diseases that can be vaccinated, most people do not get sick, but this does not mean that it is intelligent to give up the vaccine. Why carry the risks when protection is safe and effective?
Should vitamin A and liver oil should be used to prevent measles infection?
The only way to prevent measles is the mmr vaccine. Vitamin A does not prevent measles, and in high doses, it can lead to toxic side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, unclear vision, liver damage and coma.
Treatment with vitamin A is recommended once a day for two days for those who suffer from a firm diagnosis of measles infection to help the disease become more severe.
Cod liver oil contains high amounts of vitamin A, vitamin D and fatty acids, which can be harmful if the income exceeds the recommended daily quantity; It should not be managed to prevent measles infection.
Should I be worried if measles are found in my community?
Societies should always be taken seriously. Even when the total vaccination rates are strong, the outbreaks can still spread among some population, such as people with immunodeficiency or live in unjust areas.
Some environments also pose more risks. If a patient with measles arrives at the hospital's emergency department, for example, the disease must be determined quickly and the patient is in isolation to prevent the virus from spreading quickly to other sick individuals.
Everyone takes responsibility for taking the necessary precautions to avoid the virus and ensure the update of their vaccinations to protect themselves and their neighbors.
What should I do if I have a stiffness or think I might suffer from measles?
The measles are very infectious, and it can be infectious before the development of symptoms. Be very careful if there is possible exposure.
Wear a mask and isolate it from others, call your doctor immediately if you think you were exposed
Your care team can help determine whether you are at risk of contracting with the virus. For inching, obtaining a mmr vaccine or immunoglobulin injections may reduce the risk of disease.
If you or your child are fully immunized (two MMR vaccine), monitor the symptoms for at least 21 days and contact your supply immediately if you or your child start trying any symptoms. Do not go to a healthcare facility without calling forward to ensure that you are not exposed to other patients.
Where can I find additional information about measles?
*Palak Patel, do, contribute to this article.
