Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Measles
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What is it?
Measles, also called rubeola, is a very contagious infection of the lungs (respiratory illness) caused by the measles virus. The measles virus normally grows in the back of the throat and lungs.
Measles is common in many parts of the world but is rare in countries that provide routine vaccines. There are still some measles cases in Canada because travellers to and from other countries become infected and spread the virus to people who are not immune, usually people who have not been vaccinated.
Complications from measles can include pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and blindness. Complications are more common for children under five years of age and people 20 years of age or older. Measles is a serious disease: one out of every 10 people who get measles develop complications, one out of every 1000 people who get measles die.
Hamilton Public Health Services strongly encourages parents to fully vaccinate their children against measles.
What to do if you think you've been exposed to measles
Measles is easily spread from person to person by:
- A person with measles coughing or sneezing, spreading the virus into the air; and
- Direct contact with nose and throat secretions (fluid), such as saliva from a person with measles
The measles virus can live in the air and on infected surfaces for up to two hours. If people breathe the contaminated air or touch the contaminated surfaces, then touch their eyes, nose, or mouths, they may become infected if they are not immune to measles. Nine out of 10 unimmunized people who come in close contact with an infected person with measles will get the disease.
A person with measles is contagious before showing symptoms. A person with measles is very contagious from one day before the start of symptoms (usually about four days before the rash appears) until four days after the rash appears.
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of measles begin seven to 21 days after infection with the virus.
- Fever of 38.3 C (101 F) or greater
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Drowsiness (sleepy)
- Irritability
- Red watery eyes
- Small white spots with white centres, known as Koplik’s spots, on the inside of the mouth and throat
Three to seven days after symptoms start, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and then spreads down the body. This body rash lasts from four to seven days. Measles usually last for two weeks.
The following people are at risk of measles:
- Anyone who has not had measles in the past or has not received two doses of measles-containing vaccine - either measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) or measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV)
- Travellers and people who work in some jobs, such as health care workers or persons in the military, may be at higher risk for exposure to measles. Talk to you doctor, nurse practitioner or occupational health and safety specialist
People born before 1970 are generally considered to be immune as most people had measles before a vaccine was available.
Risks of measles during pregnancy include:
- For women who are not immune to measles, acquiring the illness during pregnancy increases the risk of premature labour, miscarriage and low birth weight infants.
- Birth defects have not been linked to measles exposure.
- Unimmunized women who are pregnant and have been exposed to measles can receive immunoglobulin within 6 days after exposure to prevent measles disease or reduce the severity of measles disease.
- Pregnant women can receive the MMR vaccine after pregnancy to protect against measles in the future.
Public Health Services interviews all persons diagnosed with measles. If you are identified as a contact, Public Health Services will do one or all of the following:
- Call to inform you that you are a contact
- If unable to reach you by phone, a letter is sent to your home
- Issue a media release if the exposure may have happened in a public place such as a shopping mall or restaurant
If you think you have been exposed to measles, call Public Health Services at 905-546-2489 as soon as possible to speak with a Public Health Nurse who can assess your risk of developing measles. Monitor for signs and symptoms of measles for 21 days after the date you think you were exposed.
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