What is measles?

Measles is a very contagious illness caused by a virus. It can make you very unwell and cause serious complications.

Measles is uncommon in Australia due to a successful measles vaccination program.

Sometimes measles outbreaks still happen, when travellers become infected while overseas and bring measles back to Australia. Measles is most often seen in people who aren’t immunised. This includes babies who are too young to be vaccinated and people who are unwell or allergic to the vaccine. These people can be protected if enough people in the community are vaccinated to stop the virus spreading. This is called ‘herd immunity’.

Measles in Australia

There is a concern that measles infection is rising in Australia. This is partly because fewer children have been vaccinated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, some parents choose not to vaccinate their children.

In some parts of Australia, not enough children are getting vaccinated to reach herd immunity levels. This means a measles outbreak could happen.

What are the symptoms of measles?

The rash can last up to one week.

Symptoms start about 10 to 14 days after being in contact with an infected person.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How do babies and children catch measles?

Measles is a very contagious infection. Up to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with someone with measles will get sick.

It’s spread through:

• coughing and sneezing
• touching objects that have infected mucus or body fluids on them

The virus can survive in the air and on surfaces for a couple of hours.

A person with measles is contagious from about one day before they start to feel unwell until 4 days after the rash appears.

How can I protect my child from getting measles?

The best protection against measles is vaccination. The National Immunisation Program (NIP) offers free measles vaccination for all Australian children.

It’s recommended for your child to have 2 doses of the measles vaccine, at:

• 12 months of age — as part of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR)
• 18 months of age — as part of the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV)

It’s important to make sure your child is vaccinated on time.

If you are travelling with a baby to a country with a high rate of measles, they should be vaccinated if they are aged 6 months or older. They will still need to have 2 more doses of the measles vaccine after 12 months of age.

Is the measles vaccine safe?

The measles vaccine is safe from the age of 6 months. The MMR and MMRV vaccines can cause side effects, but they are usually mild — such as redness or pain at the site of the injection, fever or a rash.

Side effects of measles vaccination are much less common after the second dose.

Fewer than 1 in 1000 children will have a seizure from a fever after measles vaccination.

More serious side effects are very rare. Keep in mind that the chance of serious illness from catching measles is much higher.

MMR vaccination does not cause autism spectrum disorder or inflammatory bowel disease. If you are unsure about giving your child the MMRV vaccine, try this decision aid from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

What should I do if I think my child has measles?

If you think your child may have measles, you should contact your doctor straight away. Do not go to the clinic, because you could infect people in the waiting room. Call your doctor and they will let you know the safest way to see them.

Read more on school exclusion for health reasons.

What should I do if my child has been in contact with someone with measles?

If your child has had close contact with someone with measles and they haven’t had 2 doses of the measles vaccine, they will need a dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine to lower their chance of getting sick. For this to work best, they should have the vaccine within 3 days of being near a person with measles.

If your child is under 6 months of age or can’t have the vaccine for other reasons, they may need a medicine with antibodies against measles. For this to work, they should have the medicine within 6 days of contact with measles.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How is measles diagnosed?

Your doctor may be able to diagnose your child’s measles from their symptoms. They will ask if your child has been near anyone with measles.

They may confirm the diagnosis with:

• a swab taken from their nose or throat
• a urine (wee) test
• a blood test

Measles is a notifiable disease. If your child has measles, your doctor will tell your local public health unit. They may ask to talk with you to try and find out where your child caught measles. They may also ask who your child has been in contact with (this is called contact tracing). This helps limit the spread of measles and protects your community.

How do I care for my child with measles?

If your child has measles, it’s very important to keep them at home. Your doctor will tell you when they can go back to child care or school.

There is no specific treatment for measles. Your doctor may prescribe vitamin A to help prevent complications.

While at home, your child should:

• get lots of rest
• drink plenty of fluids
• take paracetamol for their fever and discomfort — be sure to check the instructions on the packet
• take any medicines prescribed by their doctor

Antibiotics won’t help, because measles is caused by a virus, not bacteria.

Measles can be a very serious illness and some children may need to go to hospital. If you are concerned in any way, contact your doctor.

How can I prevent my child spreading measles?

Measles is very contagious so it’s important to take care to limit its spread.

It’s important to keep your child with measles away from school or child care. Keep them at home in isolation until 4 days after the rash appeared. Don’t allow visitors into your home while your child is contagious.

It’s a good idea to teach your child general hygiene measures to prevent them catching or spreading infections.

What complications can occur with measles?

About 1 in 10 people with measles have complications.

Children under 5 years of age have a higher chance of complications.

Complications can include:

• ear infection
• diarrhoea
• croup
• eye problems and blindness
• pneumonia (severe lung infection)
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

Many children who develop encephalitis will have a permanent brain injury.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare complication that can occur several years after having measles. It affects the brain and eventually leads to death.

Resources and support

• Find out more about childhood immunisation in Australia on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
• If you are unsure about giving your child the MMRV vaccine, try this decision aid from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).
• Check the vaccination schedule in your state or territory at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's website.
• Visit the Smartraveller website for information about avoiding measles when travelling overseas.
• If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, learn more about how measles during pregnancy can affect you and your baby.

Languages other than English

• Health Translations Victoria has information about measles vaccination in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• Visit Vaccination for Our Mob for information about measles and vaccination.
• Find out about extra vaccinations available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.