Measles may start like a common cold, but unlike a cold, it often leads to a serious rash and can cause severe complications.
Use this screener if you believe you may have been exposed to measles. Based on your responses, we will provide guidance on your next steps.
Measles is a virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages like the nose, mouth, and throat, and spreads throughout the body.
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 21 days after being exposed to the virus.
Stage 1 lasts 2-4 days, and you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Stage 2 lasts 7-10 days, beginning with the appearance of a rash. The non-itchy rash has raised, red spots that start on the face and spread downward, covering the body, arms, and legs.
Measles is highly contagious. Someone who is infected can spread the disease to other people before noticing any symptoms, especially in the four days before and after a rash develops. The virus spreads easily by sharing the same air with an infected person, especially if that person coughs or sneezes. The virus remains contagious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
There is no cure for measles.
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and managing any serious conditions that can develop. This may include medications to control fever or pain, IV fluids, antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, and vitamin A supplements
If given within 6 days after exposure, Immune globulin (IG) can help prevent or lessen measles. It is mainly for people who could get very sick, like babies under 1 year old, pregnant people who aren’t protected, and people with very weak immune systems. Most others who already got at least one measles shot after their first birthday don’t need IG.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a very rare but deadly disease that affects the brain and nervous system. It happens when someone gets a measles infection earlier in life, and the virus stays in the body and causes problems later on.
Herd immunity protects a community from outbreaks by preventing the virus from spreading person to person. For measles a vaccination coverage of 95% is required to prevent the virus from spreading.
Whitman County's vaccination rate is only 72.2%, leaving the community vulnerable to outbreaks.
The most effective way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles and protection is long-lasting.
The MMR vaccine is much safer than getting a measles infection.
Two doses of the MMR Vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, and protection is long-lasting.
Children need 2 doses of MMR vaccines:
It is especially important that high-risk adults, such as healthcare professionals, college students, people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, or those preparing for international travel, confirm they’ve previously received two doses to be fully protected.
Anyone traveling internationally should be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before traveling.
Infants 6–11 months old should get:
Most healthcare providers, schools & pharmacies in Washington use the Washington State Immunization Information System. Please check with them to ask if they can give you a complete immunization record for you or your child. They can print it from the Immunization Information System or from their own medical record system.
Sign up for MyIR Mobile by going to myirmobile.com and follow the registration instructions. Your registration information will be used to match your records with the state immunization registry. You will be sent a verification code on your phone to finalize the process. Once registration is complete, you'll be able to view your immunization records and Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS).
If have vaccine records in Washington State, you can submit a request online Immunization Records Release Request. We can access your records and send them to you by email, fax, or mailing address. Once a request has been submitted, we will reach out to you with more information.
If you believe you need the MMR vaccine, please call your healthcare provider or local pharmacy.
If your healthcare provider or local pharmacy does not have the MMR vaccine or is unable to complete your request for vaccination in a timely manner, please contact Whitman County Public Health's Disease Prevention Team. We can:
Everyone, whether immune or not immune to measles, should watch for measles symptoms.
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 21 days after being exposed to the virus.
Stage 1
Lasting 2-4 days, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Stage 2
Lasting 7-10 days, this phase begins with the appearance of a rash. The non-itchy rash has raised, red spots that start on the face and spread downward, covering the body, arms, and legs.
If you develop any measles symptoms (runny nose, redness or watery eyes, cough, fever, or rash), you should isolate immediately, away from others.
Why?
You can spread the disease to others 4 days before the rash appears through 4 days after the rash appears (or longer, if you are immunocompromised).
If you need to seek care, you should call your doctor to inform them that you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms. The office will help you make special arrangements to get a physical evaluation without exposing other patients and medical office staff.
There is no cure for measles.
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and managing any serious conditions that can develop. This may include medications to control fever or pain, IV fluids, antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, and vitamin A supplements
If given within 6 days after exposure, Immune globulin (IG) can help prevent or lessen measles. It is mainly for people who could get very sick, like babies under 1 year old, pregnant people who aren’t protected, and people with very weak immune systems. Most others who already got at least one measles shot after their first birthday don’t need IG.
Check your immunization status to find out if they are immune or not immune to measles, which greatly impacts how likely they are to “catch” measles.
The quickest way to access all records for vaccines received in Washington state is to sign up for Washington state’s free immunization record website MyIR Mobile. If you have trouble accessing vaccination records through MyIR, call 833-VAX-HELP for assistance. You can also contact their healthcare provider or the pharmacy where vaccinations were given.
The following individuals would be considered immune to measles:
The following individuals would be considered not immune to measles:
If immune to measles, you are at low risk of “catching” measles, even if exposed, and will not need to quarantine after an exposure.
If not immune to measles or have an unknown immunization status, you are considered to have a high risk of catching measles. In a room of 10 non-immune people, measles will infect 9 people. You should quarantine for 21 days after your last exposure. This includes not going shopping, to work, to school, to religious services, or being with others outside of the immediate household for the full 21 days after you were exposed.
If immune globulin (IG) is given, the quarantine period is 28 days. IG provides passive antibodies that can help prevent or lessen measles, but it also delays the incubation period because it slows down how quickly the virus can multiply in the body. This means if someone is going to get sick, it might take longer for symptoms to appear — up to 28 days after exposure.
You can reach our Disease Prevention team at DiseasePrevention@whitmancounty.gov.
For time-sensitive matters during our normal business hours, you can reach us at (509) 332‑6752.