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General Information About Measles (Rubeola)

Measles can be a very serious disease, with the potential to cause severe symptoms, disability and death. Measles is very contagious, meaning it spreads from person to person very easily. You have the power to protect your child, yourself and your community against measles with a safe and effective vaccine.

What is Measles? 

Pronounced (MEE-zills)

Measles, also called rubeola, is a serious and very contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus.

Measles Data

Cases and Outbreaks

MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine rates in New York State

Measles Signs and Symptoms

What are the symptoms of measles?

Some of the more common measles symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Red or pink watery eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin)

To prevent the spread of illness, please contact your health care provider (doctor’s office, clinic, hospital) BEFORE going for care. This will help to prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness.

Photos of Measles and People with Measles (Some of these photos might be unsuitable for children. Viewing discretion is advised.)

Related page: More information about measles signs and symptoms

What are the Complications of Measles?

Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. There is no way to tell in advance how sick a person will get. 

  • About 1 in 5 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized.
  • 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage.
  • 1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.
  • Ear infections occur in about 1 out of every 10 children with measles. 

Transmission (How does measles spread?)

Measles is very contagious.  It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. 

  • It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.
  • If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.

It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to 2 hours after that person has left. 

Animals do not get or spread measles.

How long is a person with measles contagious?

A person with measles can pass it to others from 4 days before a rash appears through the 4th day after the rash appears.

All individuals who were exposed to measles and who do not know their vaccination status, are immunocompromised, or are pregnant should contact their health care provider immediately to discuss their situation. 

Is There a Treatment for Measles?

There is no treatment, but acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be taken to reduce a fever. People with measles also need bed rest and fluids. They also may need treatment for complications such as diarrhea, an ear infection or pneumonia.

Community Immunity

"Community immunity" means people are protected from a disease because of a vaccine (vaccine-induced immunity) or prior infection (infection-induced immunity). Community immunity helps protect the whole group, even people who didn’t get a vaccine or who have not been sick before. Think of this like a wall made of bricks. Each brick is a person who is protected from an infectious disease. The more bricks (people) there are, the stronger the wall (protection) is to keep the disease out.

Measles is extremely easy to catch and spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. About 95 out of 100 people in a community need to be immune to stop measles from spreading. People who are protected don’t spread measles as much as those who are not protected. If fewer than 95 out of 100 people are immune to measles, it spreads more easily. People who are not able to get the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, like infants under 6 months and pregnant people, are at greater risk of measles infection.

Why risk getting sick? Measles infection may mean you have lifelong protection against reinfection – but you first must suffer with symptoms like fever, rash, and swollen glands, and avoid or survive potentially deadly issues like brain swelling and pneumonia. The MMR vaccine also gives lifelong protection, and if you do get exposed after vaccination, you will have much milder symptoms.

Additional Information and Resources about Measles

Erie County

New York State

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Measles Home Page

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