Measles is highly contagious: on average, an infected person can infect as many as 18 other unvaccinated people.
October 12, 2025
high
epidemiological
Basic transmissibility parameter (often described as an upper-range basic reproduction number) for measles.
Measles infectious particles can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room.
October 12, 2025
high
virology
Mechanism contributing to measles' high transmissibility via airborne persistence of infectious particles.
The MMR vaccine is a combination vaccine that immunizes against measles, mumps, and rubella.
high
definition
Describes the composition and target diseases of the MMR vaccine.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1,600 people get sick from listeria infections each year in the United States and about 260 die annually.
high
statistical
Annual burden estimate for listeria infections in the United States provided by the CDC.
Measles can cause severe infections in the lungs (for example, pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis) that can lead to cognitive impairment, permanent hearing loss (deafness), or death.
high
medical
Potential severe complications associated with measles infection.
Routine childhood vaccinations have largely eliminated or greatly reduced incidence of many infectious diseases that formerly afflicted children, including diphtheria, tetanus, measles, polio, and mumps.
high
historical
Describes long-term public health impact of routine childhood immunization programs.
Declines in immunization coverage are associated with increases in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis (whooping cough).
high
epidemiological
General epidemiologic relationship between vaccination coverage and outbreak risk for vaccine-preventable diseases.
Declines in childhood vaccination coverage have been associated with resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough (pertussis).
high
general
Epidemiological relationship between vaccination coverage and outbreaks of certain childhood infectious diseases.