Measles

Alabama Department of Public Health News Release: First presumptive positive measles case in Alabama in 2019

• What is measles?
• What are the signs and symptoms of measles?
• Is measles contagious?
• How do people get measles?
• How is measles treated?
• How long do measles last?
• Can measles be prevented?
• When should I call the doctor?
• Why is vaccination important?
• What if my baby is too young for the vaccine?
• Why don't babies get the MMR shot sooner?

What Is Measles?

Measles is a very contagious respiratory infection. It causes a total-body skin rash and flu-like symptoms. Measles is rare in the United States thanks to widespread immunization. But millions of cases happen worldwide every year.

Measles (also called rubeola) is caused by a virus, so there's no specific medical treatment for it. The virus has to run its course. A child who is sick should drink plenty of liquids, get lots of rest, and stay home from school or daycare to prevent spreading the infection.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Measles?

The Alabama Department of Public Health urges anyone who believed they could have been exposed to call their healthcare provider and isolate themselves if they developed symptoms of measles. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, followed by white spots in the mouth and a red, spotty rash that typically begins on the face and spreads over the body.

Is Measles Contagious?

Measles is very contagious. In fact, 9 out of 10 people who aren't vaccinated for measles will get it if they are near an infected person.

How Do People Get Measles?

Measles spreads when people breathe in or have direct contact with virus-infected fluid. It can pass through droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. Someone exposed to the virus usually shows symptoms 7–14 days later.

People with measles can spread the disease from 4 days before the rash starts until about 4 days after that. They're most contagious while they have a fever, runny nose, and cough. Those with weakened immune systems due to other conditions can spread the measles virus until they recover.

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.

Kids with measles should be closely watched by a doctor. 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. For those with a weakened immune system, this should continue until they make a full recovery and all symptoms are gone.

How Long Does Measles Last?

A measles infection can last for several weeks. Symptoms usually start 7–14 days after someone is exposed to the virus.

Can Measles Be Prevented?

The best way to protect your kids is to make sure they're immunized against measles.

For most kids, measles protection is part of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV) given when they're 12 to 15 months old and again when they're 4 to 6 years old.

It's important for all kids who can get the vaccine to get it on schedule. At-risk people (such as those with weakened immune systems) can't get the vaccine and depend on "herd immunity." This is when a lot of people are immunized against a disease, which prevents it from spreading and helps prevent outbreaks.

As with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. For example, a child who will be traveling outside the United States can get the vaccine as early as 6 months of age. Talk to your child's doctor to see when the vaccine is needed.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call the doctor right away if you think that your child has measles. Also call if your child was around someone who has measles, especially if your child:

• is an infant
• is taking medicines that suppress the immune system
• has tuberculosis, cancer, or a disease that affects the immune system
   

Why Is Vaccination Important?

Before measles vaccination was available, every year in the U.S.:

• more than 500,000 cases were reported
• about 500 people died
• around 4,000 people developed encephalitis

Widespread immunization has made measles rare in the U.S. But outbreaks do still happen. An outbreak is when a disease happens in greater numbers than one would expect in a certain area. Measles outbreaks have been increasing worldwide, mostly due to people not being vaccinated.

At highest risk during a measles outbreak are:

• infants who aren't old enough to get the vaccine
• pregnant women
• people with poor nutrition or weakened immune systems

Doctors can give an injection of measles antibodies (called immune globulin) to at-risk people who are exposed to measles. It's most effective when given within 6 days of contact. These antibodies can either prevent measles or make symptoms less severe.

The measles vaccine may help protect women who are not pregnant and people not in an at-risk group if they get it within 72 hours of measles exposure.

What if my baby is too young for the vaccine?

Wash your hands! Just as you would to prevent germs at any time, use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Remind others in your home or anyone who is near your baby to do the same.

Other things that can help:
Limit your baby's exposure to crowds, other children, and anyone with colds.
Go germ-free. Disinfect objects and surfaces in your home regularly.
Feed your baby breastmilk. It has unique antibodies to prevent and fight infections.

Remember, the measles virus can live for two hours in the air.

Why don't babies get the MMR shot sooner?

The MMR vaccine is a live vaccine, which means it contains weakened forms of the viruses. In order to work, those weakened forms of the virus need to multiply to create an immune response. Since the natural protection newborns get from their moms wears off gradually over a period of months, the viruses may not be able to multiply the way they would when the baby is a little older. That's why we recommend the first dose of the MMR starting at 12 months of age. Not because it's too dangerous, but because that's the age at which the vaccine works best.