Measles is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to serious illness and death. Given the severity of disease, it is essential to protect yourself from measles.
According to the World Health Organization, measles can affect every part of the body after first infecting the respiratory tract. Some cases have only mild symptoms such as fever, rash, runny nose, conjunctivitis and cough. However, severe complications can include:
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea leading to dehydration
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain, potentially causing brain damage)
- Blindness
- Premature birth (if you are pregnant)
- Death
Those most likely to have severe complications if they get measles include:
- Children under 5
- Adults over 30
- People who are deficient in vitamin A
- People with a compromised immune system
- People who are pregnant
People who get measles at age 2 or younger are at a higher risk of developing subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SSPE is a rare but fatal central nervous system disease that can develop seven to 10 years after a person is infected with measles.
Prevention
Measles is largely preventable if you receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is very safe and prevents over 95% of measles infections. It is important for children and adults to receive all recommended doses of the MMR vaccine.
It is also important to avoid contact with anyone who has measles, since the measles virus can remain in the air or on contaminated surfaces for two hours. An infected person can spread measles from four days before to four days after the rash begins.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to high vaccination rates. However, MMR vaccination rates have been declining, leading to outbreaks in states like Texas and in other places around the world. In February 2025, an unvaccinated child died from measles in Texas, marking the first death from the virus in the U.S. in more than a decade.
Only 83% of children received their first dose of the vaccine in 2023, down from 86% of children receiving their first dose in 2019. Just 74% of children received both doses in 2023, and about 22 million babies missed at least one dose.
Worldwide, more than 60 million measles deaths were prevented between 2000 and 2023 due to the MMR vaccine. However, measles continues to cause high mortality due to fluctuating vaccination rates and access. In 2023, around 107,500 people died from measles, many of them being young children under 5 who were unvaccinated.
What if I Get Measles?
If you do ever get measles, here are tips to reduce the likelihood of severe complications:
- Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet. Drink plenty of water to replace any fluids lost from vomiting or diarrhea. Antipyretics such as Tylenol can be used for fever.
- Children with severe measles should take vitamin A supplements (once daily for 2 days) to prevent complications such as blindness and reduce the likelihood of death.
- Immunocompromised patients and those with pneumonia may benefit from ribavirin.
Measles is typically not treated with antibiotics since it is a virus. However, some bacterial eye and ear infections, as well as bacterial pneumonia, may be present along with measles. In those cases, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat those bacterial illnesses.
UofL Health Can Help
UofL Physicians – Primary Care is here for you if you may have measles or if you need to get vaccinated. If you need a primary care provider, you can call 502-588-4343.
Also, the UofL Physicians – Vaccine & International Travel Center provides MMR vaccines. To make an appointment or for more information, call 502-852-6464.
