What it is
Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clear up in a few days. But measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old.
Measles is highly contagious. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.
The best protection against measles is measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.
Signs and symptoms
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Measles typically begins with:
- – High fever (may spike to more than 104°)
- – Cough
- – Runny nose (coryza)
- – Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin.
The measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.
- – It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
- – Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
- – The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
- – When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.
Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age.
- – Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea.
- – Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.
About Measles (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Complications
Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.
Transmission
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases.
- – If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.
The measles virus lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.
- – People become infected when they breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths.
- – Measles can live for up to 2 hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area.
An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing they have the disease.
- – You can spread measles to others from 4 days before through 4 days after the rash appears.
Prevention
The vaccine for mumps is part of the MMR vaccine, a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
The routine schedule for vaccination is:
- – First dose between 12 and 15 months of age.
- – Second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.
Note: People born before 1957 were likely exposed to the virus and are likely immune to measles and do not require vaccination.
Measles Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Michigan Measles Cases and Outbreaks 2025
Visit michigan.gov/measles for updates on measles cases in Michigan.
2024 Measles Cases and Outbreaks in the U.S.
As of November 7, 2024, a total of 277 measles cases were reported by 32 jurisdictions in the United States:
Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
For more information on measles in the United States, visit: Measles Cases and Outbreaks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
2024 Measles Cases in Michigan
There were 3 cases of measles in Michigan in 2024
- – For more on measles in Michigan, visit: Measles in Michigan Surveillance and Updates (MDHHS)
Measles Outbreaks Around the World
For more on measles outbreaks around the world, visit: Global Measles Outbreaks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)