1. If I was vaccinated as a child, do I need to get a booster?

If you received two doses of the measles vaccine as a child, you do not require any booster doses. If you only received one dose of the measles vaccine, then you should receive a second dose to be considered fully immunized. If you have any medical conditions, especially those that compromise your immune system, you should speak with your primary care provider about your options.

2. What if I don’t know if I was previously vaccinated?

If you are unsure of your vaccination status, speak with your primary care provider to discuss possible testing.

3. What should I do if I, and/or my child, are exposed to someone with measles and we are vaccinated?

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles infection. If you have received one dose, you should get a second dose. It is recommended that anyone possibly exposed, regardless of vaccination status, should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days following the date of their last exposure. If you notice the symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home and away from others. Contact your healthcare provider immediately. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the health department to help protect other patients and staff.

4. How do I protect others if I have, or suspect I might have, measles?

If you notice the symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home and away from others. Contact your healthcare provider immediately. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the health department to help protect other patients and staff. Please contact DC Health at 844-493-2652 or via email at [email protected]

5. What are the typical symptoms of measles that I should look out for? Are they different for children versus adults?

The symptoms of measles are similar for children and adults. Symptoms of measles begin with a high fever, often above 104°F (40 °C) followed by cough, runny nose, and eye redness (conjunctivitis). A red blotchy rash appears about 4 days after the start of the fever, beginning at the hairline, then involving the face and upper neck, and proceeding downward and outwards to hands and feet. After 5 to 6 days, the rash fades in the same order that it appears. In addition to these usual symptoms, there can be serious complications of measles, such as diarrhea, ear infection (otitis media), pneumonia, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), other rare brain disorders, and death.

6. How can I protect myself/my child from measles when we are out in public?

The most effective way to prevent measles infection is vaccination. The measles vaccine has been combined with the mumps and rubella vaccines into a single vaccine known as the MMR vaccine and the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, MMRV. The MMR vaccine provides protection against all three diseases. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine if you should receive the vaccine. Most children should receive 2 doses of the MMR vaccine through the routine childhood vaccination schedule starting at the age of 1, with a second dose at the age of 4. If your child is under the age of 1, speak with your primary care provider to determine if your child requires earlier vaccination. The vaccine can also prevent measles in unvaccinated individuals if administered within 3 days of exposure to the measles virus. People born before 1957 are considered to have been exposed to measles as a child and are likely already immune.

7. How long does the public need to stay away from a potential exposure site?

The measles virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person coughed or sneezed, even after they leave the area. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can become infected.

8. What treatment options are available for people who are diagnosed with measles?

There are no treatments specifically for measles infections. Supportive care to treat the symptoms can be recommended by a healthcare provider.