08/26/2026
Measles is a preventable disease that can lead to serious health issues and death.
Measles is very contagious. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. Certain groups are more likely to have serious complications from measles.
Vaccines provide the best protection against getting sick from measles.
Two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) or measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine provide the best protection against measles. Most people who are vaccinated with MMR & MMRV will be protected for life.
Measles spreads easily through the air, often from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. The virus can live for up to 2 hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area.
If someone breathes in contaminated air or touches contaminated surfaces and then touches their face (like their eyes, nose, or mouth), they could become infected. A person with measles can spread the virus to others starting 4 days before through 4 days after the rash or symptoms appear.
Symptoms usually appear in 7 to 14 days, but could be as long as 21 days, after exposure to someone who is infected.
Measles symptoms usually appear in 7 to 14 days, but could be as long as 21 days, after exposure to the virus.
Symptoms that may keep your child home include, but are not limited to:
A fever of 100.4°F or higher
Pink, red, or watery irritated eyes with or without drainage
Rash
Cough
Runny nose
Sore throat
https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/measles
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/diseases-conditions/infectious-disease/measles
