Maine.gov logo
Agency logo

Measles

About Measles

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus that spreads easily from person-to-person. It can spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. This disease is also called rubeola. Measles can be prevented with vaccines.

Symptoms

Symptoms of measles usually appear about 7 to 14 days after contact with an infected person. Measles usually begins with:

  • High Fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes

Two or three days after symptoms begin:

  • tiny white spots, called Koplik spots, may appear inside the mouth.

Three to five days after symptoms begin:

  • rash begins as flat red spots, which may develop small, raised bumps on top
  • rash starts on the face along the hairline, then spreads downward to neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet
  • fever may spike to more than 104°F

Spread

Measles virus is highly contagious. Measles spreads in two main ways:

  1. Measles virus lives in the nose and throat of an infected person. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  2. The virus can live in the air on surfaces for up to 2 hours. People can get infected by breathing the virus from the air or touching a contaminated surface and touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Measles only spreads between people. Animals do not get or spread measles.

If you have measles, up to 90% of the people close to you who are not immune will also get infected. An infected person can spread measles to others before they know they have the disease. Infected people can spread measles from 4 days before through 4 days after the rash appears.

People at Higher Risk

Measles can be serious in all age groups. Certain people are more likely to suffer from measles complications including:

  • Children younger than 5 years of age
  • Adults older than 20 years of age
  • Pregnant women
  • People with weak immune systems

Ear infections and diarrhea are common complications from measles. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis and may require hospitalization. Death from measles can occur.

Prevention

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 get vaccinated with MMR or MMRV will be protected for life.

Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. Some people who get two doses of MMR vaccine may still get measles if they are exposed to the virus, but the disease is usually milder and they are less likely to spread the disease to others.

Who should get vaccinated?

  • Children: All children should receive two doses of MMR. The first dose should be given at 12 through 15 months of age and the second at 4 through 6 years of age. CDC does not recommend measles vaccine for infants younger than 6 months of age.
  • Any adults who do not have evidence of immunity to measles. This includes:
  • Students at post-high school educational institutions.
  • Healthcare personnel.
  • International travelers.
  • People of childbearing age before they get pregnant.

Talk to a healthcare provider about vaccine recommendations for you and your family.

Recommendations related to vaccination prior to travel – whether to an area with a known measles outbreak in the U.S., or to any destination internationally – are outlined below, in the Travel section.

US CDC recommends that individuals born between 1957 and 1967 check their measles vaccination history. While most people in this age group have some immunity, some may need extra protection. You may need another measles vaccination if:

  • You received the inactivated (killed) measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967. This version was ineffective.
  • Get vaccinated with at least one dose of the live, attenuated (weakened) MMR vaccine.
  • If you are not sure about your vaccination history or immunity.
  • Get an extra dose of the live attenuated MMR vaccine.
  • You are in a high-risk group. This includes health care workers, international travelers, and individuals in outbreak prone areas.
  • Talk to a health care provider to make sure you are fully protected.

Find more details on measles vaccination from US CDC.

Travel

Measles cases in the US often originate from international travel. The best way to protect yourself from getting measles is by getting vaccinated.

Before international travel: Make sure you're protected against measles

  • Plan to be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before you depart
  • If your trip is less than 2 weeks away and you're not protected against measles, you should still get a dose of MMR vaccine

After international travel, watch for measles.

  • Monitor for symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, rash)
  • Call a healthcare provider immediately if you think you or your child have been exposed to measles
  • Resources

General Resources

Immunization Resources