Measles (TEST)

Residents and community members

If you are concerned that you may have measles or may have been exposed to measles, you should contact your primary care provider immediately.  Measles is very contagious, that’s why it's best to call your health care provider or emergency room before being seen.

Boston businesses and organizations

If you are concerned that a staff member may have measles or has been exposed to measles, you can contact Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611 and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at 617-983-6800.

If you are a Boston business with general questions about measles, please email infectiousdisease@bphc.org.

• Anyone who never had measles and has never been vaccinated.
• Babies younger than 12 months old, because they are too young to be vaccinated.
• A very small percentage of vaccinated children and adults who may not have responded well to the vaccine.

Measles virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing virus particles in the air. Another person can then breathe in the virus. Measles virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. A person can spread measles from 4 days before to 4 days after the rash appears.

Serious problems resulting from measles infection include:

• pneumonia
• seizures
• diarrhea
• ear infections
• brain infections

Measles in pregnant people can cause miscarriage, premature labor, and low birth weight.

 If you think a family member might have measles, please call your health care provider right away. 

• Measles infection can occur 10-14 days after direct or indirect contact with another person with measles. 

• The first symptoms of measles are usually a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Later, people may get white spots in their mouth and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body. 

• At least 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles will become very ill and need to go to the hospital.  

• Serious effects of measles include dehydration, blindness, brain damage, and pneumonia.  

• Measles during pregnancy can be dangerous for the pregnant person and their baby. 

Yes. It is never too late for children or adults to get the measles vaccine. 

The most common side effects of the MMR vaccine are a sore arm, fever, and rash. There are other less common side effects, such as temporary joint pain or allergic reactions.

Please speak with your health care provider if you have any questions about side effects. 

• Every vaccine has some side effects. The side effects are mild and much safer than becoming infected with measles. 

• The MMR vaccine does not cause autism. There was a 1998 study that incorrectly linked the vaccine to autism, but it was later removed from the medical journal it was published in for fraud.  

• Many people still hold the belief that the MMR vaccine causes autism.  

• Signs of autism often begin around the age when children receive the MMR vaccine, which can cause confusion. Several studies have confirmed there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have both confirmed that the MMR vaccine is not responsible for recent increases in the number of children with autism. We recommend the MMR vaccine because it is safe.  

Vitamin A is sometimes used as treatment for a person already sick with measles. However, eating a diet high in vitamin A or taking vitamin A supplements cannot prevent measles. In fact, eating or drinking too much vitamin A can cause liver damage, coma, birth defects, and other health problems. Talk to your health care provider before taking vitamin supplements or giving vitamin supplements to children. The best way to prevent measles is to make sure that all members of your family have received the MMR vaccine.