Measles Measles Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects children, but can occur at any age. Due to the introduction of the active immunization, the illness occurs less often than in the past when epidemics would occur every two to three years. The measles virus is very small, and can be spread by droplet secretions from the nose, mouth, or throat of infected individuals. The incubation period, which is from the initial exposure to the virus to the beginning of symptoms, is generally ten to fourteen days.
Individuals are contagious for about the first week of the disease.
Early symptoms may resemble a bad cold. The individual feels weak and feverish, and may develop a dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose. The eyes become red, itchy, and sensitive to light, and small, white spots begin to appear inside the mouth and eyelids. The fever may climb as high as one hundred and four degrees. Within three to five days, a rash will appear.