Measles is caused by a virus. This virus is very highly contagious. People can transmit the virus to others through the air, for example by coughing or sneezing. You can get measles if you have not had the disease before, or if you have not been vaccinated against measles. Very occasionally, a person who has been vaccinated against measles still gets an infection. If that happens, your illness will usually be less severe. If you have had measles before, you cannot get it again.
| How does the virus spread? | From coughing or sneezing |
|---|---|
| Common symptoms | Nasal cold, fever, spotted red rash on your face and torso, lower immunity (making it easier to get other infectious diseases) |
| Serious symptoms | Ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis Very occasionally, years later, you can get a rare form of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) |
| Which vaccinations protect against this disease? | MMR-vaccination |
How does measles spread?
If you have measles and you sneeze or cough, tiny droplets containing the virus are expelled into the air. If other people inhale the droplets, they could become infected.
Most children in the Netherlands have been vaccinated against measles. If you have had two vaccine doses, you are 99% protected. If you have had measles before, you cannot usually get it again. Very occasionally, a person who has been vaccinated against measles still gets an infection. This is because the vaccination is less effective in 1% of people. If you do still get measles, your illness will usually be less severe.
Measles outbreaks do occur now and then, especially in groups with lower vaccination coverage or no vaccination at all.
Protection against measles
Vaccination can protect you against measles. Read more about vaccination against measles, or read how vaccination works.
Video's
Video: What is measles
Voice-over: Measles is a very contagious disease. It always includes a rash.
You can get measles from a person who is infected with the measles virus.
This virus is found in the nose and throat.
It can spread through the air by coughing, sneezing and talking.
Measles starts with a fever, nasal cold and coughing.
After 3 to 7 days, a spotty rash starts behind the ears and then spreads all over your
body.
You will be feverish and may become very ill.
Thankfully, measles usually goes away on its own, without medication.
If you do become seriously ill, you could also develop pneumonia or encephalitis
(inflammation of the brain).
You might even die.
Most children in the Netherlands are vaccinated against measles.
They get two injections: the first at 14 months and the second at 3 years.
Would you like to know more? Go to RIVM.nl/en/measles
Outro: logo National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
In onze infographic over mazelen vind je overzichtelijke informatie over de verschijnselen van mazelen.