What is Measles?

Measles is a viral infection, that causes a distinctive rash and fever. It is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications including death.  While it’s become much less common in Australia due to routine childhood vaccination, outbreaks still occur from time to time. Sometimes it is brought in to the country by non-immunised people, and it can also arise in communities where vaccination rates are low.

How is Measles spread? How do you get Measles?

Measles is highly contagious- it’s usually spread by the tiny droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets are inhaled by another person, leading to infection. It can also be spread through direct contact, or by touching a surface that an infected person has contaminated.

It can take between 7 and 18 days after exposure to show signs of illness, though the typical incubation period is about 10 days. If an unvaccinated child is exposed to Measles, they have roughly a 90% chance of becoming ill themselves.

How long is Measles contagious for?

A person may be contagious with Measles for about 5 days before the start of the rash and for another 4-5 days after the rash first appears.

What are the complications of Measles?

Complications can include:

• Ear infections
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Respiratory issues such as Croup, Laryngitis and Pneumonia
• Measles in pregnancy can lead to premature labour, miscarriage or stillbirth.
• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and brain damage
• Liver infection( hepatitis)
• Blindness ( due to inflammation of the optic nerve)
• Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare degenerative brain condition that sets in many years after initial Measles infection (typically around 7 years later, though it can be longer). It occurs in 1 in every 100,000 cases of Measles. There is no cure for SSPE- it is a fatal condition.

Can you die from Measles?

Yes, deaths still occur from Measles, due to various complications, though pneumonia is the most common fatal complication. In Europe there have been 37 deaths so far in 2018.

How do you prevent Measles?

• The best way to prevent Measles is to get the MMR vaccine
• The MMR vaccine is offered to all children in Australia as part of the childhood vaccination schedule. It gives around 93% protection after one shot, and 97% after a second.
• It is generally very safe and effective.
• “Herd immunity” is important in protecting against Measles epidemics- this means that over 95% of kids need to be immunised to make the vaccine work for the entire community.
• There is an MMR vaccine at 12 months of age, and another at 18 months called MMRV (which also includes immunisation against chicken pox). A catch-up vaccine can be given at 4 years of age in children who didn’t get a second vaccine.
• People born after 1966 who have never had Measles or the MMR vaccine are also eligible.
• The MMR vaccine is often recommended for overseas travellers as well as healthcare workers or people working with children or the elderly.
• Booster vaccinations may be advised if there is an outbreak in a community.
• If a person has been exposed to Measles and has not been vaccinated, they may be given “Human normal immunoglobulin” or HNIG for short- this can help to reduce the risk of infection, if given within 6 days of exposure. It can be used in young babies, pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems (for example due to cancer, leukaemia or HIV)