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--- Document: What You Need to Know About Measles Document ---
What You Should Know About Measles
Theresa M. Redling, DO, FACP
Chief, Geriatrics Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine Rutgers NJ Medical School
Sadly, after many years of minimal measles cases in the US, we are now dealing with more measles cases
this year than we have seen in decades (there were a total of 285 cases in 2024). Measles was declared
eliminated in the US in 2000- indicating a lack of continuous spread for more than 12 months. There have been
378 cases of documented measles identified in the US since March 21, 2025. Most of these cases have been
found in unvaccinated people who were less than 19 years old. 64 of these patients needed hospitalization,
and there have been 2 deaths (one is a child confirmed due to measles, and one is an adult still under
investigation). The resurgence of measles is thought to be due to lower vaccination rates among children. US
protection from measles by the safe and eUective MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine has fallen way
below the target of > 95 % vaccinated kindergartners.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable air borne infectious disease spread by coughing or
sneezing. Nine out of ten people unvaccinated that are exposed will get infected. Symptoms include a fever,
runny nose, inflamed eyes and a typical red rash often starting on the face and then spreading to the rest of the
body. Symptoms start 10-12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7-10 days. Experts know that
people are infectious 4 days before they are symptomatic and up to 4 days after the rash subsides. Patients
also have small white patches in their mouth a few days after the start of symptoms. Common complications
include diarrhea, middle ear infections and pneumonia. Less common, but very serious complications include
seizures, blindness or inflammation of the brain(encephalitis). There is currently no treatment for measles.
Treatment remains conservative with fluids and symptom management for fever and other medications for
possible complications.
So how can one protect themselves from getting measles and who are at highest risk for contracting this very
vaccine preventable illness? While often regarded as a disease of childhood, it can aUect people of any age.
The good news is that most Americans don’t need a booster- especially those who received two doses of the
MMR vaccine, as it is still 97 % eUective against measles. For those who received just one vaccine between
1968 and 1989, the vaccine is still 93 % eUective against measles. People born before 1957 generally have
enough protection, as they are immune due to widespread measles exposure. For adults, there are currently no
recommendations to get another MMR booster. However, there are some groups that are at risk and who may
benefit from a dose of the current MMR vaccine (those that received a single dose inactivated vaccine between
1963 and 1967). Another group who may benefit from an MMR booster, are those people in regular contact with
individuals who cannot get the vaccine- unvaccinated pregnant women and people who are
immunocompromised rely on others to stay safe against the virus. Finally, health care workers should have two
documented doses of MMR, or a history of having measles in earlier years. If there is any question of immunity
to measles, one can have their health care practitioner check a measles immunoglobulin G(IgG) blood test for
immunity. If one is unable to check for immunity and there are no known medical contraindications to receiving
an MMR booster, it’s not unreasonable to receive a booster. It is a safe vaccine with generally no significant
harm.
Vaccines save lives. Stay safe. Talk to your health care practitioner about your immunity and if you may need an
MMR booster.