Measles

Measles is usually spread when a person breathes in the measles virus that has been coughed or sneezed into the air by an infectious person.

People with measles are usually infectious from 4 days before the rash begins until 4 days after the rash appears.

The measles virus has a short survival time in the air and on objects and surfaces (less than 2 hours) and it is inactivated quickly by sunlight and heat. It's generally considered safe to enter an area where a person with measles has been (e.g. a clinic waiting area) 30 minutes after they have left the area.

If you think you have been exposed to measles

If you have never had measles or have not been vaccinated against measles you are at risk of measles infection.

• If it is less than 3 days since you came into contact with a person with measles, immunisation can prevent you from becoming ill.
• If it is more than 3 days and less than 7 days since you came into contact with a person infected with measles, an injection of medicine called immunoglobulin can protect you. Immunoglobulin contains antibodies against the measles virus. Immunoglobulin is especially recommended for children less than 1 year old, pregnant people who have not been immunised and people with certain medical conditions who are at greater risk of developing complications if they catch measles.

Measles is rare in Australia due to immunisation programs, but cases can still occur.

Anyone who is not immune and is exposed to the measles virus is at risk of infection; in general, anyone born after 1965 that has not had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine is considered susceptible.

People travelling overseas

People who haven't had two doses of measles vaccine and are travelling overseas are at increased risk of infection because measles is common in many countries outside of Australia.

One dose of measles vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles illness and two doses is 97% effective.  To be optimally protected, you need two doses, (given 4 weeks apart) of the MMR vaccine before travelling overseas.

Pregnant people and their babies

If a pregnant person is infected with measles, there is an increased risk of complications including miscarriage, early labour and stillbirth.

Pregnant persons shouldn't have the measles vaccine during pregnancy.  To protect their baby and themselves, it is important for women to get vaccinated against measles at least 4 weeks before getting pregnant.

The time from exposure to becoming sick is usually about 10 days. The rash usually appears around 14 days after exposure.

The first symptoms of measles are:

• fever
• tiredness
• runny nose
• cough
• sore red eyes.

These symptoms usually last for a few days before a red blotchy rash appears. The rash starts on the face and spreads down to the body over a couple of days. The rash can last for 4 to 7 days.

Complications

Up to one-third of people infected with measles will experience a complication. This can include ear infections, diarrhoea and pneumonia, and may require hospitalisation. About 1 in every 1000 people with measles develops encephalitis (swelling of the brain).

Measles can be difficult to diagnose early in the illness because there are many other viruses that cause similar illnesses. Sometimes the presence of white spots inside the mouth, called Koplik spots, the timing of the fever and the rash, and the appearance of the rash can help a doctor to make the diagnosis.

Whenever measles is suspected, a diagnosis can be confirmed in the laboratory through a blood test, a nose or throat swab, and/or a urine sample. 

Confirming the diagnosis is important so other people who may be at risk of measles can be identified and offered vaccination if they have not been already vaccinated.

If you (or your child) develop symptoms of measles

• Do not attend public places (such as work, school, early childhood education and care services or shopping centres) or use public transport.
• See a doctor, preferably your general practitioner, as soon as possible so a diagnosis can be confirmed.
• Call the surgery ahead to alert them of your symptoms and to allow them to make arrangements to assess you safely and without infecting other people.
• Call the local public health unit.

Notifiable disease

Measles is a notifiable disease so doctors, hospitals and laboratories must inform the Department of Health of you or your child’s diagnosis. Notification is confidential.

Department of Health staff will talk to you or your doctor to find out how the infection occurred, identify other people at risk of infection, and let you know about immunisation and whether you or your child needs to stay away from work, school or group gatherings.

There is no specific treatment for measles. You should rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take paracetamol for fever if required.

While you have the infection

People with measles are infectious from 24 hours before they have fever, runny nose, cough and/or red eyes to until 4 days after the rash appears. It is important that you stay at home to avoid spreading it to other people.

Yes, measles is a vaccine-preventable disease and is free for persons born after 1965. Learn more about the MMR vaccine.

Unimmunised children who have come into contact with measles and who do not receive the MMR vaccine or immunoglobulin cannot attend school until 14 days after the onset of the rash in the last case occurring at the school or 18 days after the last contact with an infectious case to whom they were exposed outside the school.