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

What Is Measles?

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Measles is a very serious and contagious respiratory disease caused by the Rubeola virus. It causes fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and rashes in the mouth and on the body.

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

You can become infected 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

Measles can make people very sick, especially babies and young children. Measles complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth, hospitalization, and death.

Measles: It isn't just a little rash (full text below)

Text equivalent of above graphic:

Measles

It isn’t just a little rash

Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.

[Illustration of 6 boys and girls of various races]

Measles symptoms typically include:

  • High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes
  • Rash breaks out 3-5 days after symptoms begin

[Illustration of a little boy with watery eyes, runny nose and a thermometer in his mouth]

Measles Can Be Serious

About 1 out of 5 people who get measles will be hospitalized.

1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling due to infection (encephalitis), which may lead to brain damage.

1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.

[Illustration of a hospital]

[Illustration of the brain]

[Illustration of many people that symbolize the community, all colored in blue, except 3 that are gray]

You have the power to protect your child.

Provide your children with safe and long-lasting protection against measles by making sure they get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine according to CDC’s recommended immunization schedule.

[Illustration of a mom and her son smiling]

www.cdc.gov/measles

[logo] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[logo] American Academy of Pediatrics

[logo] American Academy of Family Physicians