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Measles – What is it?

Measles is extremely contagious. Measles is a virus that spreads easily through the air when someone who has measles coughs, sneezes, yells, sings, and breathes. You can get measles just by passing through a room or location where a person who is infected was up to 2 hours before. The person who is infected does not still need to be there to put you at risk of disease. The best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations.

Measles symptoms

Symptoms can include:

• fever of 38.3°C or higher; and
• cough, runny nose, or red eyes; and
• a rash that appears 3 to 7 days after fever starts. The rash usually starts behind the ears and on the face, then it spreads to the body, arms, and legs. The rash looks red and blotchy on lighter skin. On darker skin, the rash may look purple or darker than the skin around it, or it might be hard to see. See .

Measles can be dangerous because:

• One in 10 people with measles will get middle ear or lung infections.
• One in 1,000 people with measles will get encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to seizures, deafness, or brain damage.
• One to three of every 1,000 people with measles will die.
• In 1963, before widespread immunization, about 60,000 cases of measles were reported in Canada each year.

Who is most at risk?

You are at risk of being in contact with measles if you travel outside of Canada or to areas within Canada where measles is spreading. If you have not had measles in the past or if you have not been fully immunized against it and you come into contact with the virus, you are at risk of getting measles.

Measles tends to be more severe in children younger than 5 years, adults, people who are pregnant, and people with weak immune systems.

If you were born before 1970, there is a good chance you are immune to measles, as you were likely exposed to measles when it circulated widely before 1970.

How it spreads

Measles is an extremely contagious disease, spread easily through the air.

You do not need to be in direct contact with someone who is infected. You can get measles just by passing through a room or location where a person who is infected was present up to 2 hours before. The person who is infected does not still need to be there to put you at risk of disease.

Measles can also be spread through coughing, sneezing, yelling, singing, or breathing.

If you have measles, you can spread the disease before you show any symptoms. Measles can spread starting 4 days before the rash appears until 4 days after the rash appears.

Vaccine and prevention

The is given as part of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥'s for children and is free. It protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (varicella). The is another free vaccine that protects against measles.

The following people can get this vaccine:

• children starting at age 12 months who are not getting , the vaccine that also protects against varicella (chickenpox)
• younger babies (ages 6 to 11 months) who are having an organ transplant
• adults and children (including younger babies ages 6 to 11 months) who are travelling outside of Canada or to areas within Canada where measles is spreading
• adults and children age 13 years and older whose immunization records do not show they have had the recommended number of doses of measles, mumps, or rubella vaccines

This vaccine may also be recommended within 3 days of contact with the measles virus and if you have not had all the recommended doses of the measles vaccine. Adults and children who received a measles vaccine dose before their first birthday may need an additional dose to ensure full protection.

To see if you are eligible to get the vaccine, you can call the Immunization Booking Line at 811 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. if you live in the Calgary or Edmonton Zone. If you live in another zone in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, contact your local .

Eligible ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ students, their spouses, faculty, and staff can receive measles immunizations at the University Health Centre by calling to book an appointment at 780-492-2612.

If you have any questions about measles or immunizations, please contact a primary care provider including your doctor, pharmacist, midwife, nurse practitioner, or public health nurse. If you don’t know your or your child’s immunization history, text "vaccine record" to 88111, call Health Link at 811, or call your local . To receive information about measles, text "measles" to 88111.

Pregnancy

If you are immune to measles, you will pass measles antibodies to your unborn child. This will give your baby some protection against measles, but this protection will disappear over time. Your baby will need their own measles vaccines to be protected.

If you aren't sure about your immunization history, check with your healthcare provider to make sure you're protected against measles. You cannot get the measles vaccine while pregnant.

Immune globulin (IG)

If you have contact with the measles virus, are not immunized, and are at risk for serious illness if you have a weak immune system, you’re pregnant, or you’re younger than age 1 year, you may get immune globulin. Immune globulin can help prevent measles or prevent you from getting seriously sick if you do get measles.

Immune globulins give quick, short-term protection. For long-term protection, you need a vaccine. .

Additional resources

• If you are feeling sick, notify your instructor or supervisor about your absence from work or school and learn about the academic accommodations and wellness services that are in place to support you.
• If you think you or your child has been exposed to measles, and you were born in 1970 or later and are not fully immunized (with 2 doses of measles vaccine on or after 1 year of age), call at 811 before visiting any healthcare provider, clinic, or hospital.
• Measles Hotline: Call 1-844-944-3434 for inquiries regarding your immunization records, symptoms, or to book an immunization appointment.
• Learn about measles -