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FAQ

Measles: General info, immunity, exposure

  • What is measles?

    Measles is a respiratory virus that causes high fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and a rash. After a person is exposed to the virus, it typically takes 14 days for the rash to appear. There is no treatment for the measles. Medical care is geared toward symptom relief and avoiding complications.

    Please call your health care provider immediately if you think you have the measles and are experiencing following symptoms:

    • Rash
    • Fever
    • Cough
    • Red or irritated eyes
    • Runny nose

    Make sure you are up to date on your vaccines to protect yourself, immunocompromised family members, colleagues, and patients.

    Measles is transmitted through contact with saliva or mucus of an infected person and through air particles. Importantly, people who are vaccinated are not able to transmit the virus. People have died from severe complications associated with measles, such as pneumonia or encephalitis.

  • Is measles contagious? For how long?

    Measles is extremely contagious — 90% of people who are susceptible (unvaccinated) and come into close contact with a person with the measles will get it. Measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, and sneezing. The measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves that area.

    The contagious period for someone sick with measles is usually defined as the five days prior to the date of rash onset through the four days after the date of rash onset.

  • How do you prevent contracting measles?

    Measles can be prevented by receiving two doses of the measles-containing vaccine. The vaccine is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine can be administered to children age 12 months to 12 years for protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox). Single-virus measles vaccine is not available.

    One dose of MMR vaccine is approximately 93% effective at preventing measles; two doses are approximately 97% effective. Almost everyone who does not respond to the measles component of the first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 months or older will respond to the second dose.

  • Are there more case of measles than before?

    Measles still appears in communities around the United States, despite it being declared eliminated as a major public health threat in 2000. One reason is that there are pocket populations and communities of persons who are unvaccinated against measles. This allows the extremely contagious disease to spread easily.

    Another reason for an increased number of cases is infection from unvaccinated individuals who travel to and from countries where measles is endemic. If you’re planning to travel internationally, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travel Health Notices and consult with your health care provider before traveling.

    Measles cases in the United States are increasing at an alarming rate. If transmission continues, the nation is at risk of losing our eradication status.

    For up-to-date information on the number of reported cases of measles, please visit the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention: Measles Cases and Outbreaks.

  • Am I protected against measles?

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers a person to be immune (not at risk) if they meet one of the following criteria:

    • Written documentation of adequate vaccination: one or more doses of a measles-containing vaccine administered on or after the first birthday for preschool-age children and adults not at high risk
    • Two doses of measles-containing vaccine for school-age children and adults at high risk, including college students, health care personnel, and international travelers
    • Laboratory evidence (titers) of immunity
    • Laboratory confirmation of measles
    • Birth before 1957

    If you are unsure whether you are vaccinated or have protective titers and are a UTHealth Houston employee or resident who provided documentation at the time of employment, please call Employee Health at 713-500-3267. The providers can check your records.

    Students may contact UTHealth Houston Student Health and Counseling Services at 713-500-5171.

    UT Physicians/Insperity Employees may contact Betty Croffie, LVN, Employee Health, at 713-486-3172 or email Croffie at [email protected].

    All others should contact their health care provider to check immunization status.

  • Who should I call to check if I'm immune?

    If you are unsure whether you are vaccinated or have protective titers and are a UTHealth Houston employee or resident who provided documentation at the time of employment, please call Employee Health at 713-500-3267. The providers can check your records.

    Students may contact UTHealth Houston Student Health and Counseling Services at 713-500-5171.

    UT Physicians/Insperity Employees may contact Betty Croffie, LVN, Employee Health, at 713-486-3172 or email Croffie at [email protected].

    All others should contact their health care provider to check immunization status.

  • Is it more dangerous to have measles as an adult?

    Children younger than 5 and adults older than 20 are more likely to suffer from complications.

  • I had measles as a child. Am I immune?

    Yes, having measles normally confers immunity. However, you must be sure that you had laboratory-confirmed measles as a child. For additional information on measles immunity, visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Measles.

  • If I receive an MMR vaccine, how long will it take to protect me?

    If you receive the MMR vaccine, within the first three days (72 hours) after exposure to measles you may get some protection against the disease, or have milder illness.

  • I was vaccinated for measles as a child. Do I need to get a booster?

    According to the CDC, people who received two doses of the MMR vaccine after 1967 are considered to be protected for life.

    Very few people (about 3 out of 100) who get two doses of the vaccine are at risk to get the measles. Fully vaccinated people who get the measles will likely have a milder form and they are less likely to spread it.

  • I think I had the MMR vaccine, but I'm not sure. What should I do?

    There are several options. Ideally, try to find your immunization records to show that you had two doses after 1967. If you do not have written documentation of measles immunity, you should get vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.

    Another option is contact your health care provider and request to be checked for immunity to measles through a blood test. If there is no evidence of vaccination, you will need to get an MMR vaccination.

  • Can I still get measles if I've had one or both of my MMRs?

    It's possible to contact measles after two doses of the MMR vaccine, but it is highly unlikely — 97% of people are protected after two doses of the MMR.

    Adults who have never been vaccinated and will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission should receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. Health care personnel should receive two doses of MMR vaccine.

    Revaccination is not necessary for individuals who have documentation of age-appropriate vaccination, but lack serologic evidence of immunity, except for women of childbearing age who are not immune to rubella; such women should receive one additional dose of MMR (maximum of three doses) but need not be retested for serologic evidence of immunity.

  • Should I get the vaccine if I'm pregnant?

    No, pregnant women should not be vaccinated against measles. Please discuss options with your health care provider if you believe you are at risk.

  • Will measles cause harm to an unborn baby like rubella or chickenpox?

    Measles can be transmitted to the baby and cause harm. Non-immune pregnant women who contract measles are at increased risk for serious maternal and fetal complications.

  • My partner is pregnant. If I get the vaccine, will I put the baby or mother at risk?

    No, the vaccine will not produce symptoms that can be transmitted to others.

  • I heard the MMR vaccine causes autism. Is that true?

    The link between autism and the MMR vaccine came from a fraudulent study that has since been retracted. Extensive research has shown you definitely cannot get autism from the vaccine.

Questions?

For additional questions, please email [email protected] or contact the UTHealth Houston Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 713-500-8100.