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Measles information

Virus or bacteria

Measles is caused by measles virus.

How it spreads

• Respiratory droplets that hang in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth or nose.

If 10 susceptible people are in an enclosed space with one person infected with measles virus, all 10 people will likely become infected.

Symptoms

• Red, pinpoint rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body
• White spots on the inside of the cheeks and roof of mouth, called "Koplik spots"
• Fever (can be high)
• Pink, watery eyes
• Lack of energy
• Cough

Typical disease timeline

Measles typically lasts about 6 days.

Possible complications

• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis
• Ear infections
• Hemorrhagic measles
• Blood clotting disorder
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
• Thrombocytopenia
• Death (1 of 1,000 people infected)
• Measles infection during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, early delivery, or the delivery of low birth-weight babies.

Other things to know

• People can become infected with measles virus from droplets that remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area.
• Measles only occurs in people.
• Children who get measles before their first birthday are at greater risk of developing SSPE. SSPE often occurs years after the infection, and it is virtually always fatal.

Mumps information

Virus or bacteria

Mumps is caused by mumps virus. This virus infects the salivary and parotid glands, which are found below the ear.

How it spreads

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Contact with the saliva of an infected person

About 5 or 6 of 10 susceptible people will likely become infected if exposed to one person infected with mumps virus.

Symptoms

• Swollen glands below the ear
• Body aches
• Headache
• Low-grade fever

Typical disease timeline

Mumps typically lasts about 10 days.

Possible complications

• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Orchitis
• Oophoritis
• Pancreatitis
• Myocarditis
• Deafness
• Miscarriage

Other things to know

• About 50 of 100 males who have swollen testes due to mumps infection will suffer long-term effects. This can result in sterility.
• Mumps only occurs in people.
• Outbreaks of mumps occur on college campuses because of the close living conditions and behaviors that result in sharing saliva, like kissing or sharing drinks.

Rubella information 

Virus or bacteria

Rubella is caused by rubella virus. It is also called German measles.

How it spreads

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Contact with the saliva of an infected person

About 6 or 7 of 10 susceptible people will likely become infected if exposed to one person infected with rubella.

Symptoms

• Mild rash
• Low-grade fever
• Swollen glands below the ear
• Short-lived swelling of the small joints

Typical disease timeline

Rubella typically lasts about 3 days.

Possible complications

• Encephalitis
• Thrombocytopenia
• Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can occur in unborn babies if their mother becomes infected with rubella before the 20th week of pregnancy. CRS can cause fetal death, miscarriage or premature delivery. Babies who survive often have severe birth defects that can include:
  • Deafness
  • Heart damage (i.e., heart murmur)
  • Autism
  • Mental delays
  • Eye damage (i.e., cataracts or glaucoma)
  • Skeletal damage
  • Damaged liver or spleen
  • Diabetes
  • Lack of head growth

Other things to know

• CRS is the main reason people are immunized against rubella.
• Rubella only occurs in people.
• Adults are more likely than children to experience complications.

See a photo of the rubella rash and get more information.

MMR vaccine information

The MMR vaccine is available as a combination vaccine that prevents measles, mumps and rubella. Individual vaccines for these diseases are not available in the U.S. 

Vaccine type

• Live, “weakened” vaccines
• Combination vaccines

MMR vaccine side effects

Common

• Low-grade fever (10 of 100 recipients)
• Non-contagious measles-like rash (5 of 100 recipients)
• Fever above 103°F (5 to 15 of 100 recipients)
• Short-lived arthritis or joint inflammation (Up to 3 of 100 children; 25 of 100 adults)

Rare

• Short-lived decrease in the number of platelets circulating in the blood (Fewer than 1 in 30,000 recipients)
• Fever-associated seizures (1 in 3,000 to 4,000 recipients)

Very rare

• Serious allergic reaction (fewer than 1 of 1,000,000 recipients)

Other things to know

• Dr. Maurice Hilleman first created a mumps vaccine by obtaining the virus from his young daughter. 

Reasons to get the MMR vaccine

• Measles and mumps still occur in the U.S.
• Mumps can cause deafness. In rare cases, it can cause sterility in males.
• Complications caused by measles include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare, progressive fatal neurological disorder.
• Measles, mumps and rubella can be harmful to a developing fetus if pregnant women are infected.