Measles had become rare in many countries, but outbreaks have surged worldwide as vaccination rates fell. The World Health Organization estimates that measles caused more than 100,000 deaths in 2023, mostly among unvaccinated children under five.
Measles was nearly beaten in many places. Now it is coming back. The families who check their children’s vaccines today are the ones who will not be caught out.
How contagious is measles?
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and the virus can stay in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who are close to someone with measles will catch it. People are infectious from about four days before the rash appears until four days after.
Symptoms
- High fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, starting about 10–14 days after exposure
- Small white spots inside the cheeks (Koplik spots)
- A red-brown blotchy rash 3–5 days later, starting on the face and behind the ears, then spreading down the body
Complications
- Pneumonia, the most common cause of measles deaths
- Ear infections and diarrhoea
- Encephalitis (brain inflammation), which can cause brain damage
- Blindness, especially in children with vitamin A deficiency
- Measles weakens the immune system for months to years afterwards
- Rarely, a fatal brain disease years later (SSPE)
If you think someone has measles, phone ahead before going to a clinic or hospital so staff can prevent others in the waiting room from being infected.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment. Care focuses on fluids, nutrition, managing fever and treating complications. WHO recommends vitamin A supplements for children with measles, which reduce the risk of death and blindness.
The MMR vaccine
Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. Check that your children have had both doses on time, and catch up if anyone in the family has missed one. Health workers should make sure they are protected too.
“But measles is just a childhood rash.”
Measles can cause pneumonia, brain swelling, blindness and death, and it weakens the immune system for years. It is one of the most contagious diseases known.
Your next step: find your children’s vaccine record this week and check they have had two doses of a measles-containing vaccine.
Related: Mandatory vaccination for nurses: the debate
Sources: World Health Organization measles fact sheet; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles for healthcare professionals.
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