What You Should Know About. . . Measles is an acute, generalized, highly communicable viral disease caused by a measles virus.
Rubeola is the scientific term used for measles.
The virus multiplies in the nose, throat, and lymph nodes and can spread throughout the body. One third of measles cases lead to other serious complications, and measles can rarely cause death and encephalitis. Past experience in New Jersey indicates that during measles outbreaks, up to 40 percent of infected persons require hospitalization. Generally people of any age who have not had measles or who have not been appropriately vaccinated can acquire measles. Transmission has also been documented when a person enters a room or closed space within 2 hours of the space being previously occupied by an infected person.