Measles Frequently Asked Questions

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause life-threatening illness for people who are not vaccinated. It spreads easily but can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Contact your doctor to schedule a vaccine. DSHS offers several low-cost programs for vaccination. Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) ensures all Texas children, regardless of parent's ability to pay, have access to recommended vaccines. Use the map on the DSHS website to find a TVFC provider near you.

Measles symptoms appear in stages:

Early Symptoms (First few days)

• Fever (mild to moderate)
• Cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis
• Runny nose
• Red eyes
• Sore throat

Later Symptoms (After a few days)

• Small blue-white spots in the mouth (Koplik spots) two or three days after symptoms begin.
• Red or reddish-brown rash that starts at the hairline and spreads down the body three to five days after symptoms start. Severe areas peel off in scales. The rash fades in order of appearance.
• High fever (can spike to above 104°F) when the rash appears.

The rash usually appears 14 days after exposure. Some immunocompromised people may not develop the rash.

Measles is a highly contagious virus; 90% of the people close to an infected person who are not immune will become infected with the measles virus. The measles virus can persist for up to two hours in the air where the infected person coughs or sneezes. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. 

People are contagious about four days before their rash starts to four days after it appears. If you might have measles, stay home during this time.

The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, usually administered as the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

• Two doses of the MMR vaccine prevents 97 percent of measles infections.
• The vaccine protects both children and adults from serious complications.

Almost everyone without immunity will get measles if exposed to the virus. Once infected, there is no specific treatment to cure measles.

The MMR vaccine is not recommended for the following people:

• People who have had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose or to a vaccine component 
• People who have a known severe immunodeficiency 
• Pregnant women

More information about measles vaccine is available on the DSHS website.

You can obtain vaccination records from your doctor’s office or local health department. School nurses can also obtain vaccination records for school-aged children.

Visit the DSHS news updates webpage.

A doctor or health care provider can test for measles with a throat or nasal swab.

• Call your doctor before going in—they need to prepare so you or your child don’t expose others. It is important to let the provider know that the patient may have measles.
• Isolate and avoid contact with:
  • o Infants
  • o Pregnant women
  • o People with weak immune systems
• If you are not immune, your doctor may recommend:
  • o The MMR vaccine or
  • o A medicine called immune globulin to reduce risk.
• If you do not get the vaccine, avoid places with high-risk people (schools, hospitals, child care centers) until your health care provider says it’s safe.

• Stay home for four days after the rash appears.
• Avoid contact with others to prevent spreading the virus.
• Ask your health care provider when it is safe to be around other people.

How to stop the spread:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in the trash can. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Don’t share drinks or eating utensils.
• Disinfect surfaces like toys, doorknobs, tables, and counters. Standard household disinfectants will readily kill the measles virus.

Rarely, vaccinated people can still get measles, but their symptoms are milder, and they are less likely to spread it.

No! DSHS strongly advises against intentionally exposing anyone to infectious diseases like measles.

• Measles can cause severe complications and death, even in otherwise healthy people.
• You can’t predict how severe the symptoms will be.
• Exposing kids on purpose puts others at risk—especially the unvaccinated and people with weakened immune systems.
• Vaccination is the safest way to protect children against measles.

Common complications include:

• Diarrhea
• Ear infections (otitis media)
• Lung infection (pneumonia)
• Brain swelling (encephalitis)
• Rare but fatal brain disease (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis)
• Death

These complications are most common among children younger than 5 and adults.