Measles

Measles

Page contents:

  1. What is measles?

  2. What are the symptoms?

  3. How to prevent measles

  4. I’m not sure if I need a vaccine. What should I do?

  5. Current situation in the United States

  6. Current situation in Lincoln County, MO

  7. Vaccine safety and effectiveness information

  8. What about vitamin A?

  9. I think I might have measles, what do I do?

  10. Photos of measles

What is measles?

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to serious health complications. It spreads easily in the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs and someone nearby breathes in the infected droplets. This can happen even up to 2 hours after that person has left. It can also be spread by direct contact with fluids from the nose or mouth of someone who has measles.

Measles is:

  • Airborne

  • Extremely infectious

1 person with measles can easily spread it to 9 out of 10 people around them who are unvaccinated or don’t have immunity. Someone can spread the disease before they notice symptoms, especially in the 4 days before and after getting a rash. Nearly 1 out of every 3 children under the age of 5 who catches measles ends up in the hospital.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include:

  • Fever

  • Runny nose

  • Cough

  • Loss of appetite

  • Watery red eyes

  • Rash

The rash usually lasts 5–6 days and begins at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and proceeds down the body.

Common health complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Some people may have severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). They may need to be hospitalized and could die. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles are hospitalized. Learn more about symptoms and complications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health complications from measles are more common in:

  • Children under 5 years

  • People older than 20

  • Pregnant people

  • People with weakened immune systems

Measles can also cause “immune amnesia”.


How to prevent measles:

The best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. 2 doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. 1 dose is about 93% effective. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get their first dose between 12 - 15 months old, and the second dose between the ages of 4 - 6. If you are traveling to an area with a measles outbreak, talk to your child’s doctor.

When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, most people are protected through community immunity (also called herd immunity).

You and your child can get vaccinated at the Lincoln County Health Department. Vaccines are typically no cost to you. Call us to make your appointment or talk to a nurse (636) 528-6117 and press 1

I’m not sure if I need a vaccine. What should I do?

We recommend calling our office or calling your doctor to find your vaccine records. You don’t need a MMR vaccine if you have written documentation of adequate vaccination. The exception to this is if you were born before 1957 or were vaccinated in the 1960’s. Being born before 1957 provides you with presumptive immunity (you most likely had the disease). People who were vaccinated before 1968 should be revaccinated with at least 1 dose of measles vaccine. This recommendation is intended to protect those who may have received a vaccine between 1963-1967 that was not effective.

If you are not able to find your vaccine records, call us for more information (636) 528-6117 and press 1

Current situation in the United States:

As of May 16, 2025, the United States has reported 1,024 measles cases. There have been 14 measles outbreaks (defined as 3 or more cases) in 2025 so far.

Texas and New Mexico are currently experiencing a large, ongoing measles outbreak. This outbreak has now spread to Kansas and Oklahoma.

As of May 16, 2025, cases tied to this outbreak have been reported in:

  • 722 cases in Texas

  • 74 cases in New Mexico

  • 56 cases in Kansas

  • 17 cases in Oklahoma

Cases have been reported in 31 (up from 30) U.S. jurisdictions.

This is worrisome because measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. Every year, measles is brought into the U.S. by unvaccinated travelers who get measles while they are in other countries. These travelers are mostly Americans and sometimes international visitors.

There have been 3 deaths so far in 2025. 2 deaths were in school-aged children. They were not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.

Current situation in Lincoln County, MO:

There are currently no cases of measles in Lincoln County. 3 case of measles have been reported in Missouri (St. Louis City, New Madrid County, and Taney County).

In our community, the 2024 kindergarten vaccination rate was 93.56%. This is lower than then needed 95% to protect our kids from outbreaks. You can find more vaccine data here.

Vaccine safety and effectiveness information

Since the early 1950s, researchers and medical experts have worked to ensure that the measles vaccines are safe for people age 12 months and older. Today, MMR vaccines are routine for every child and most who receive the vaccine do not have any serious complications afterward. Decades of clinical trial data and monitoring tens of millions of vaccinated people have continued to prove the vaccine is safe and effective.

As early as the 1960s, research has shown that measles vaccines are highly effective in preventing disease and the complications caused by the disease after exposure.

Studies have found no link between Autism and the MMR vaccine.

Before the measles vaccine was introduced, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized and 400-500 people died in the U.S. each year.

What about vitamin A?










Large doses of vitamin A should only be given by a doctor. Taking too much vitamin a can make you very sick and does not prevent measles.


I think I might have measles, what do I do?

Call your doctor right away if you think you or your child have been exposed to measles. If you do not have a doctor, please call your closest urgent care of hospital. Please do not go to a healthcare facility (or doctor’s office) without calling first. This allows the office to take the proper precautions to protect other patients.

Photos of measles

Measles rash on a child's face.

Skin of a patient after three days with measles rash.

Measles rash on torso of young child.



Sources: CDC, Texas DSHS, NMHealth, Missouri DHSS, PHCC, Immunize.org, HealthyChildren.org, Oklahoma.gov

Page last updated: 5/20/2025