Measles

Measles (rubeola) is a viral disease that causes fever and a rash. It’s highly contagious and spreads through the air when a person with measles talks, coughs or sneezes. There isn’t a medical treatment for measles — you have to let the virus run its course. The best protection against measles is to receive the measles vaccine.

Since the introduction of a vaccine, measles isn’t nearly as common as before the availability of a vaccine. However, because immunization rates have been declining in the United States, outbreaks of measles have occurred in recent years. Vaccination rates are also not high in many parts of the world. This means you can get measles when you travel internationally. Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against measles is at risk of getting it.

Measles is also called rubeola, 10-day measles or red measles. It’s not the same as German measles (rubella).

Does anyone still get measles?

Anyone who hasn’t received the measles vaccination can get measles. Before the measles vaccine was available, almost everyone got measles as a child. If you’ve had measles or were vaccinated against measles, you’re probably immune.

Due to a successful vaccination program, measles in the U.S. was virtually eliminated by 2000. However, there’ve been recent cases and outbreaks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported nearly 120 cases in the U.S. in 2022.

As some countries don’t have a vaccine program to prevent measles, people traveling from other countries can pose a risk of spreading measles. You can reduce this risk by getting the measles vaccine. Millions of cases happen worldwide every year.