Measles
Health care providers, administrators, and clinical laboratory directors should report confirmed or suspect cases immediately to their Local Health Department by telephone.
Measles is a very contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. Ninety percent of people with close contact with an infected person will get measles if they are not vaccinated. Before the measles vaccine became available, measles was a common childhood disease. Measles is considered the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. Symptoms may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, rash. Measles can have serious complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and miscarriage in pregnant women. For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die.
Education Materials
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Exposed to Measles? [English] [Spanish]
Parents and International Travelers
Disease Prevention
- CDC HAN Increases in Measles Cases and Outbreaks: Ensure Those Traveling Internationally are Current on MMR Vaccination
- CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings
- Measles Exposure Guidance
- Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations
- Guidance for First Responders
- Vaccine Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
- Measles: Preventing the Spread in Child Care and School Settings
- Vaccine Information Statement
Clinical Guidance and Laboratory Testing
- WATCH: Clinical Overview of Measles: Diagnosis, Laboratory Testing, and Outbreak Response
- American Academy of Pediatrics Think Measles: Recognizing and Addressing Measles in Pediatric Practice
- Diagnosing and Treating Measles
- Project Firstline and AAP Think Measles One-Pager
- Measles Clinical Quick Guide and Screening Tool UPDATED: 3/2025
- Measles Post Exposure Prophylaxis Recommendations UPDATE IN PROGRESS
- Measles Laboratory Testing FAQ UPDATED: 3/2025
- Quick Guide for Measles Specimen Collection and Testing UPDATED: 3/2025