Measles FACT SHEET for Residents

WHAT IS MEASLES? Measles is a highly-contagious, potentially serious viral disease characterized by fever and widespread rash. Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Those at highest risk include unvaccinated people (including babies too young to be vaccinated), travelers to areas where measles is prevalent, and health care workers. Measles can be very serious, even fatal for some people. There is no specific treatment for measles.

MEASLES SYMPTOMS Measles symptoms generally appear in two stages. In the first stage, a person may have a runny nose, cough and slight fever. The eyes may become red and sensitive to light, while the fever rises each day. The second stage begins on the third to seventh day, and includes fevers as high as 105°F and a red rash lasting four to seven days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads over the entire body. Little white spots may also appear on the gums and inside of cheeks. Symptoms usually appear in 10 to 12 days, although they may occur as early as 8 or as late as 18 days after exposure. A person is able to transmit measles from four days before to four days after rash onset. Patients with measles symptoms (fever and rash) should phone their doctor ahead of time to arrange to be seen where other patients won’t be exposed.

RECENT MEASLES HISTORY In 2014 there were 644 cases of measles reported in the U.S. and five in Oregon. This is the largest number of measles cases reported in the U.S. in any year since 1994. From January 1 to January 30, 2015, 102 people from 14 states in the U.S. have been reported as having measles. Most of these cases (81 people from CA and 13 people from 6 other states) are part of a large, ongoing outbreak linked to an amusement park in California. Of those patients with documented vaccination histories, most were unvaccinated. When measles gets into pockets of communities of un-vaccinated people, outbreaks are more likely to occur. This makes it difficult to control the spread of the disease and gives the virus the opportunity to re-establish itself in the United States. High measles vaccine coverage and rapid public health response are critical for preventing and controlling measles cases and outbreaks.

PROTECT YOURSELF & YOUR FAMILY – GET VACCINATED The best way to protect yourself and your family against measles and any vaccine-preventable disease, is through immunization. Children should receive their first dose of measles vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and another dose at kindergarten. Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) is sometimes recommended for children as young as 6 months of age who are traveling outside the United States or could be infected in an outbreak. Adults born on or after January 1st, 1957, who do not have documentation of MMR vaccination or laboratory evidence of immunity, should receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Healthcare workers and international travelers should have two doses of MMR vaccine.

OREGON MEASLES VACCINE REQUIREMENT In Oregon, two doses of measles vaccination, given at least 4 weeks apart, have been required for school children since 1998. Since August 1, 1990, college students have also been required to demonstrate immunity against measles. Un-vaccinated children and teachers may be excluded from school in the presence of a measles case in their school. As long as vaccination rates remain high, the risk to Oregonians is low. Immunizations protect the entire community. Infants are generally not vaccinated for MMR before one year of age, and some people cannot be vaccinated because of medical problems. High rates of vaccination among the rest of us can prevent measles even in those who cannot be vaccinated.

For more information about Measles, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/measles/ , contact your family health professional, or contact Deschutes County Health Services at (541) 322-7400.