{"id":7177,"date":"2014-07-10T16:29:29","date_gmt":"2014-07-10T14:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mvec.vic.edu.au\/?page_id=459"},"modified":"2025-11-27T09:40:33","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T22:40:33","slug":"%e9%ba%bb%e7%96%b9","status":"publish","type":"references","link":"https:\/\/mvec.mcri.edu.au\/zh\/references\/measles\/","title":{"rendered":"\u9ebb\u75b9"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

What is it?<\/h2>\n

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral illness. It is caused by the measles virus which belongs to the Morbillivirus <\/em>family.<\/p>\n

What to look for<\/h2>\n

Infection usually begins with 3-4 days of fever, malaise, cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis. Small white spots, known as Koplik spots, are also present on the buccal mucosa (mucosal surface of the cheeks) of an infected person.<\/p>\n

3-4 days later a maculopapular rash (red with a combination of flat and raised areas) then develops, often beginning on the face before becoming more generalised and can last up to 7 days. Very rarely does a measles infection occur in the absence of a rash.<\/p>\n

Complications of a measles infection include pneumonia and otitis media (ear infection). Approximately 1 in 1000 people will develop encephalitis (brain inflammation) which carries a mortality rate of 10-15%. Sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare progressive neurological disorder that can develop 2-10 years after an initial measles infection. It is characterised by encephalitis and demyelination (loss of the protective covering of the nerve fibres) causing behaviour changes, seizures and muscle rigidity. SSPE is fatal in all cases.<\/p>\n

Measles infections during pregnancy can result in miscarriage and prematurity.<\/p>\n

How is it transmitted?<\/h2>\n

Measles can be spread by an infected person coughing or sneezing respiratory droplets or through the direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions. An environment can remain infectious for up to 2 hours after an infectious person has been present.<\/p>\n

The incubation period is 7 to 18 days (more commonly 10 days), with a person able to transmit disease for up to 5 days prior to the onset of the rash, and as long as 4 days after the rash develops.<\/p>\n

Humans are the only reservoirs for the measles virus.<\/p>\n

Epidemiology<\/h2>\n

Prior to the introduction of vaccination in 1963, measles infections contributed to 2.6 million deaths globally each year. Despite extensive vaccination campaigns worldwide, measles infection still carries a significant burden in some countries contributing to 142 000 deaths globally in 2018.<\/p>\n

Within Australia, however, high rates of vaccine coverage led to the WHO declaring Australia \u201cmeasles-free\u201d in 2014. Measles infections are still seen in non-immune individuals travelling internationally, placing unimmunised Australians at risk of infection.<\/p>\n

Prevention<\/h2>\n

Live-attenuated measles-containing vaccines are highly effective in protecting against disease. A 2-dose course of vaccination is routinely provided on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for children as combination vaccines at:<\/p>\n