As with any illness, tell the child’s family if you are concerned about their health. Contact 911 or your local emergency system if you think a child may be having a medical emergency.

Measles is a serious illness caused by a virus. Measles can be dangerous, especially for infants and young children. Children younger than age 1 are too young to get the measles vaccine. Measles outbreaks happen quickly because measles is very contagious. Children and adults who are immunized or who have already had measles usually do not get infected.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles usually begins with these symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Red and watery eyes
• Small white spots inside the cheek

Three to five days after symptoms begin, new symptoms may include a high fever and a rash that begins on the face near the hairline and spreads down the body. If a child in your program has these symptoms, tell their family right away and advise them to contact their child’s health care provider as soon as possible.

Measles is a notifiable disease.

If a staff member or child is diagnosed with measles or has been around someone who is infected, contact and follow guidance from the public health department in your jurisdiction. Your local health authorities can help you notify parents/guardians about potential or confirmed exposures of their child to an infectious disease.

How does measles spread?

Measles is very contagious and spreads easily from one person to another. An infected person can transmit it when they breathe, cough, sneeze, or touch a surface. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air after an infected person leaves the room.

Infected people can spread measles from four days before the rash appears to four days after.

Who is at greatest risk?

Measles can be dangerous, especially for infants, young children, pregnant women, and unvaccinated people. For some people, measles can lead to:

• Pneumonia (a serious lung infection)
• Brain damage
• Hearing loss
• Death

Measles is also dangerous for people who have a weakened immune system due to health conditions, such as those who are getting chemotherapy. People who have had an organ transplant or who take steroid medication are also at risk.

How can programs limit the spread of measles?

Follow regular infection control practices to help keep everyone healthy:

• Keep vaccines up to date:
  • All children should get the first dose of the measles vaccine between the ages of 12 months and 15 months.
  • Children should get the second dose between ages 4 and 6.
  • Adults should be immunized against measles if they have not had the disease.
• Refer to Caring for Our Children Standard 7.5.6.1: Immunization for Measles.
• Encourage children and adults to stay home when they are sick.
• Do daily health checks when children arrive.
• Watch children for signs of illness. Contact their parent or guardian if a child is too sick to stay.
• Wash hands with soap and water often throughout the day.
• Do not let children share toys, cups, or utensils.
• Regularly clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and toys.
• Teach people to cover their coughs and sneezes.
• Throw away used tissues.
• Let fresh air indoors.
• Spend time outdoors.
• Exclude children if they:
  • Are too sick to take part in program activities.
  • Need more care than staff can give them without affecting the health and safety of other children.
  • Show any other signs or symptoms in your “stay home when sick” policy.
• Use your program’s health experts, including your Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) or child care health consultant to stay up to date and to develop policies and procedures to prevent the spread of illness.

How can programs partner with families?

Here are some ways programs can partner with families:

• Share information about measles and other contagious diseases.
• Help families find and use information about measles.
• As with any illness, encourage families to contact their child’s health care provider with questions or concerns.
• Remind families to call 911 or their local emergency system if they think their child may be having a medical emergency.
• Encourage families to talk with their child’s health care provider about vaccines

« Go to Infectious Disease Fact Sheets

Last Updated: August 14, 2024