Measles (Rubeola) (cont.)
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What causes measles?
Measles is caused by the measles virus (a paramyxovirus).
How is measles spread?
Measles is spread through droplet transmission from the nose, throat, and mouth of someone who is infected with the virus. These droplets are sprayed out when the infected person coughs or sneezes. Among unimmunized people exposed to the virus, over 90% will contract the disease. The infected person is highly contagious for
four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash appears. The measles virus can remain in the air (and still be able to cause disease) for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room.
How does one become immune to measles?
Anyone who has had measles is believed to be immune for life. People who have received two doses of vaccine after their first birthday have a 98% likelihood of being immune. Infants receive some immunity from their mother. Unfortunately, this immunity is not complete, and infants are at increased risk for infection until they receive the vaccination at 12 to 15 months.
Who is at risk for getting measles?
Those people at high risk for measles include:
- children less than 1 year of age (although they have some immunity passed from their mother, it is not 100% effective),
- people who have not received the proper vaccination series,
- people who received immunoglobulin at the time of measles vaccination, and
- people immunized from 1963 until 1967 with an older ineffective killed measles vaccine.
What is the danger of getting measles while pregnant?
If you contract measles while you are pregnant, you may have a miscarriage, a stillbirth, or a preterm delivery. There appears to be no risk of having birth defects (unlike an infection with the
rubella virus, known as German measles).
If I am exposed, how long does it take to develop symptoms?
The typical time from exposure to a person infected with measles to development of the initial symptoms is 10-12 days (range
seven to 21 days). The rash occurs a few days after the initial symptoms (ranges from
seven to 18 days from exposure).
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| Picture of a baby with measles. Source: CDC |
Next: What are the symptoms of measles? »
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