Measles Causes & Risks

Causes

The measles virus is spread by:

• Direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people
• Airborne transmission (less frequently)

Measles is communicable from:

• 1-2 days before onset of symptoms
• 3-5 days before the rash
• Four days after the appearance of the rash

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing measles:

• Unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated
• Living in crowded and/or unsanitary conditions
• Traveling to less developed countries where measles is common
• Season: winter and spring
• Immunosuppressed state (eg, untreated HIV ), even if vaccinated
• Born after 1956 and never been diagnosed with measles or received a vaccine before 1968, without additional vaccination

Tell your doctor is you have any of the risk factors.