Albany County Department of Health Maribeth Miller, Interim Commissioner 175 Green Street Albany, NY 12202 Phone (518) 447-4580 Fax (518) 447-4698 Mon – Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Measles: How it Spreads

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Almost everyone who has not had the MMR vaccine will get measles if they are exposed to the measles virus.

The measles virus is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air.

You can become sick by breathing in the virus or by touching surfaces infected with the virus and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Measles air droplets can stay in a room for up to two hours after an infected person leaves it.  You can get the disease by entering this room any time within those two hours.  

A person with measles can get others sick from four days before through four days after a rash appears.

Measles is highly contagious (full text below)

Text equivalent of above graphic:

Measles is Highly Contagious

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

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

[Illustration showing an infected person infecting 9 out of 10 people if not protected]

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