How is measles transmitted?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.

The measles virus can live for up to 1 hour in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. However, measles does not survive more than 1 hour outside the human body.

Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears.

Measles is a disease of humans; the measles virus is not spread by any other animal species.

Show All Answers

1. How do I know if I am fully vaccinated?
2. What are the signs and symptoms of measles?
3. Have there been Measles cases in the United States and in California in 2019?
4. How is measles transmitted?
5. I’ve been exposed to someone who has measles. What should I do?
6. I don’t know if I was exposed, but I am concerned that I may have been, what should I do?
7. Am I protected against measles?
8. I only received one dose of measles vaccine, am I protected?
9. What should I do if I’m unsure whether I’m immune to measles?
10. Where can I get the Measles Vaccine?
11. How effective is the measles vaccine?
12. Could I still get measles if I am fully vaccinated?
13. Do I ever need a booster vaccine?
14. If measles is eliminated from the Americas, why do people still get it in the United States?