According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and CDC Measles (Rubeola) is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness. \u00c2\u00a0Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes followed by a rash over most of the body.<\/p>\n
Measles can be serious.<\/strong><\/p>\n Measles is very contagious.<\/strong><\/p>\n Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing he\/she has the disease\u00e2\u20ac\u201dfrom four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.<\/p>\n Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. There is no way to tell in advance the severity of the symptoms your child will experience.<\/p>\n A\u00c2\u00a0highly effective vaccine has resulted in a dramatic reduction in\u00c2\u00a0measles cases and deaths worldwide. However, outbreaks and deaths continue\u00c2\u00a0to occur, primarily related\u00c2\u00a0to\u00c2\u00a0overseas travel and unvaccinated individuals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information:<\/p>\n http:\/\/dhss.alaska.gov\/dph\/Epi\/id\/Pages\/measles\/default.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n