Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease. If unvaccinated, 90% of people in close contact with an infected person will contract it. Before the vaccine, measles was a common childhood illness and remains the deadliest rash/fever illness in children. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and rash. Serious complications can involve ear infections, pneumonia, brain swelling, and miscarriage in pregnant women

Common Symptoms (appear 7–14 days after exposure):

• High fever
• Cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes
• Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) inside the mouth
• Rash: Red or dark, blotchy rash starting on the face and spreading downward.

How Contagious is Measles?

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on Earth. Measles is so contagious that 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to it will get sick if exposed.

Transmission:

• Spreads through coughing, sneezing, or breathing in virus particles in the air.

• 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus will become infected.

Airborne Survival:

• The virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves.
• You can catch measles just by entering a room where an infected person was hours earlier.

Contagious Period:

• Infected individuals can spread the virus 4 days before and 4 days after the rash appears.

Vaccination is critical: The MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles when given in two doses. Provide your children with safe and long-lasting protection against measles by making sure they get the measles-mumps-rubella (MIMR) vaccine according to CDC's recommended immunization schedule.

Infographics:

• CDC Measles Contagiousness
• CDC: Measles Isn’t Just a Little Rash

State Resources:

• New Jersey Measles Information
• New Jersey Measles Information & Tips Fact Sheet

CDC Resources:

• Measles Homepage
• Healthcare Provider Toolkit