Measles
State and Territory information:
A highly infectious disease, measles is caused by the Morbillivirus. It takes between 10 and 14 days for symptoms to show after infection.
Measles is spread from person to person through droplets in the air. Infected people can spread the disease a few days before the symptoms appear.
Symptoms include:
- rash;
- fever;
- cough;
- runny nose; and
- inflammation of the eye.
Measles is a vaccine preventable disease.
Vaccination recommended for routine childhood immunisation is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded for children under the Immunise Australia Program.
Adults who have never had measles, or who were born after 1966 and have never been vaccinated against the disease, should consider vaccination. Contact your health care provider, doctor and/or State or Territory Health Department for more details.
For technical information refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Page last modified: 08 April, 2008