Measles is a highly infectious viral illness. The illness causes a range of symptoms including fever, coughing and distinctive red-brown spots. Adults are likely to be more ill than children and for longer. Someone with measles usually has to spend about five days in bed and be off work or school/university/college for ten days. Adults are also more susceptible to complications.
Symptoms of measles appear 9-11 days after the infection begins, and last up to 14 days. The condition is most infectious after the first symptoms have appeared and before the rash has developed.
The infection is spread through the air through droplets of saliva. You can catch measles through direct contact with an infected person, or through the air when they cough or sneeze. The droplets can also survive and remain contagious on surfaces for a few hours.
Measles is most common among children between one and four years of age, although anyone who has not been immunised against the condition can catch it.
Treatment for measles is normally not necessary because the body's immune system (defence against viruses) can usually fight off infection in a couple of weeks. Typically, once somebody has fought off the measles infection, they develop immunity to it. Complications of measles include:
More serious complications, such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), are more rare, but can be fatal. There are one million deaths worldwide from measles every year.
The most effective way of preventing measles is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which also provides protection against two other conditions – mumps and rubella. The success of the MMR vaccine means that, in the UK, cases of measles are rare.
However, in recent years, the number of cases of measles has been increasing. For example, in 2006, there were 739 cases of measles compared with 70 cases in 2001. It is thought that the rise in the number of cases of measles is the result of parents not getting their child vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. This is probably due to speculation linking MMR to autism (a condition that affects the development of the brain, and can lead to problems in communication and social interaction).
Publicity in 1998 highlighted a report claiming a link between the MMR jab and autism. However, numerous studies that were undertaken to investigate this claim found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
By getting immunised you will not only be protecting yourself but also those people, especially children, who cannot have MMR because they have illnesses such as leukaemia. They are protected if enough of the population is vaccinated so measles is eliminated.
The MMR vaccine may cause side effects for up to six weeks after the immunisation. The symptoms are similar to those caused by the diseases but are extremely mild and harmless and are not contagious. Speak to your GP or the Students’ Health Service if you are at all concerned.
People are not given the MMR vaccine if they:
You should be able to find out from your home GP. However, if you are unable to confirm whether or not you have had the MMR vaccine, it is better to book an appointment to be vaccinated because extra doses pose no health risk. Contact the Students' Health Service or your own GP to arrange a vaccination as soon as possible this term.
Anyone who has already had measles is extremely unlikely to catch measles again. However, it is possible that you will do so. This is because your immunity may not have lasted. Therefore we recommend that you DO have the MMR vaccine.