Measles is an infectious illness caused by a virus. Prior to the development of the measles vaccine, approximately 450,000 cases and 450 deaths due to measles were reported each year in the United States. Widespread measles vaccination has decreased these numbers by more than 99 percent. Measles is still a very common illness worldwide.
Measles is also known as rubeola.
The
cause of measles is an infection with the
measles virus. The measles virus is a single-stranded RNA virus, from the family
Paramyxovirus, of the genus
Morbillivirus. The measles virus only infects humans.
Measles is a highly contagious illness. It is spread by coughing and sneezing. If one person has measles, 90 percent of his or her susceptible close contacts will also become infected with the measles virus.
Incubation Period for Measles
When a person becomes infected with the measles virus, the virus begins to multiply within the cells that line the back of the throat and the lungs. After 8 to 12 days, on average, early
measles symptoms can begin. This period between the measles transmission and the start of measles symptoms is called the
measles incubation period.
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