What You Need to Know About Measles

Measles spreads so easily that nine out of 10 people who are not immune to the virus will become infected after being exposed to it. That’s happening more frequently in the U.S., as measles is becoming more common here — especially in communities where vaccination rates are low.

At least 15 states have reported measles cases this year, including Vermont. The largest outbreak is centered in Texas and New Mexico, where more than 300 people have been sickened, 34 have been hospitalized, and two have died. The number of U.S. measles cases this year is already higher than in all of 2024, when there was a total of 285 measles cases. That was up from 58 cases in 2023.

The World Health Organization declared measles eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but the disease remains widespread in some countries, with an estimated 10 million cases worldwide in 2023. Measles cases have been increasing here because U.S. residents are being exposed to the virus during international travel and spreading it upon their return — mostly to people who have not been vaccinated. In 2024, about 90 percent of U.S. measles cases were among unvaccinated people.

To help protect you and your family from this serious disease, we provide answers to frequently asked questions about measles.

What is Measles?

Measles is a virus that causes an illness with flu-like symptoms and a rash that spreads across the body. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, muscle pain, and headache. It typically takes seven to 14 days after being exposed to the virus for symptoms to appear. However, an infected person can spread the virus to others even before they start having symptoms.  

The first symptoms of measles are often a cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, and red eyes. About two to three days after initial symptoms, tiny white spots known as “Koplik spots” usually appear in the mouth. The body rash begins developing after this, on about the fifth day of symptoms. The rash starts on the face and appears red on lighter skin. It can appear purple on darker skin. The rash spreads downward over the neck, chest, back, arms, and legs. It can be raised bumps in some places.

There is no cure for measles. Treatment of symptoms may include fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, getting rest, and drinking plenty of fluids. Measles usually lasts 10 to 14 days, but it can cause serious and life-threating complications, including dehydration, pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), ear infections, and blindness. Measles may be fatal and it can cause long-term damage to the immune system, leaving people vulnerable to other infections. One possible long-term complication is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal central nervous system disease that may develop seven to 10 years after having measles.

When Should I Contact My Healthcare Provider?

Call your primary care provider immediately if you suspect you or your child have been exposed to measles, or if there are symptoms of measles, such as a rash or fever. Do not go to the doctor’s office, urgent care clinic, or the hospital emergency department without calling ahead. This will allow the facility to prepare to see you, while reducing the risk of exposing other patients to the virus.

If I Get Measles, Will I Be Hospitalized?

A significant number of people who get measles are admitted to a hospital. Of the 285 U.S. cases of measles in 2024, 40 percent were hospitalized for isolation or management of measles complications. About half of the people hospitalized last year for measles were under 5 years old. Another 25 percent were between 5 and 19 years old.

How Does Measles Spread?

The measles virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person, on surfaces like counters and doorknobs, and through the air. The virus can survive for up to two hours on a surface or suspended in the air, making it highly contagious. Someone who is not immune can get measles simply by being in a room that an infected person has recently been in.

What is the MMR Vaccine?

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine contains weakened versions of viruses to produce an immune response to measles, mumps, and rubella. Vaccination helps the body’s immune system identify and fight those viruses when it is exposed to them in the future. The MMR vaccine cannot cause the diseases themselves.

How Effective is the MMR Vaccine?

Just one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective against measles. That protection increases to 97 percent after a second dose.

How Can I Get Vaccinated Against Measles?

Contact your primary care provider to make an appointment to get the MMR vaccine, if you or your child have not already been vaccinated. Blue Cross Vermont covers the cost of the MMR vaccine for our members who receive it from in-network providers. If you do not have a primary care provider, use our Find-a-Doctor online tool to locate an in-network provider near you. The MMR vaccine is also available at some pharmacies in Vermont.

We strongly recommend verifying with your primary care provider that everyone in your family is up to date on vaccination.

Are Children in Vermont Vaccinated Against Measles?

MMR vaccination is required in Vermont before children enter childcare or start kindergarten (exemptions are allowed for medical or religious reasons). The first dose is recommended when a child is 12 to 15 months old, the second dose is given at ages 4 through 6. About 93 percent of children in Vermont public and independent schools are fully vaccinated against measles. This is above the U.S. average of 91 percent, but still below the 95 percent level that’s needed to achieve “herd immunity” from measles — when enough people in a community are immune that it’s very difficult for the virus to spread.

Do I Need a Measles Booster Shot?

If you were born before 1957, you are generally considered to be immune to measles, as the disease was widespread then and nearly everyone got it. However, some adults born after 1957 may need to get a measles booster. You should get at least one MMR shot if you’ve never had measles or aren’t sure you’ve been vaccinated. Adults born between 1963 and 1968 who were vaccinated may want to get a booster, as children during those years received a type of measles vaccine that was less effective than what we have today. People at higher risk for exposure to measles, such as international travelers, should have two MMR doses at least 28 days apart. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your healthcare provider.

Does the MMR Vaccine Cause Autism?

More than two dozen scientific articles and studies have not found any connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. A study of more than 600,000 children in Denmark found no increased risk for autism after MMR vaccination. The study also concluded that MMR vaccination does not trigger autism in susceptible children. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine’s Immunization Safety Review Committee reviewed published and unpublished epidemiological studies and said there’s no evidence of a relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Does Vitamin A Prevent Measles?

No, taking Vitamin A doesn’t prevent measles — getting the MMR vaccine is the only proven way to prevent measles infection. Vitamin A is recommended for people who have severe measles infections to help decrease the risk of complications, but it does not cure the infection. Vitamin A should only be administered by a healthcare professional, because too much of it can be harmful, causing problems such as nausea, vomiting, and liver damage.