It used to be that everyone came down with a case of measles sometime during his or her life. Some 90 percent of the American population suffered through a bout of the virus, also called rubeola, by the time they celebrated their 15th birthdays. But that all changed in 1963, when the measles vaccine was invented. Cases of the illness in the United States have dwindled from between 3 million and 4 million a year to a paltry 60 or so.

The measles virus is spread through close contact and is highly contagious. The virus first multiplies in the throat and lungs and then spreads throughout the body. At first, a sufferer experiences inflamed eyes, a cough, a mild fever, a sore throat, and a runny nose. About 2 days later, the fever spikes as high as 104°F and tiny white spots with bluish centers, called Koplik’s spots, appear on the inside of the mouth. A red, slightly itchy rash also spreads over the body. These symptoms last for about a week and disappear on their own.

Measles can be serious and life threatening, especially in young children. Across the globe, nearly 1 million people die of the illness every year, because measles can lead to dehydration, bronchitis, pneumonia, and encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain). Due to the severity of the condition, experts recommend that all children receive a measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccination. The first is administered to all children at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second to girls between the ages of 4 and 6.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. In the 10th century, the Persian physician Rhazes (860–932) declared measles more dreaded than smallpox.
  2. Koplik’s spots are named after the American pediatrician Henry Koplik (1859–1927), who discovered them.
  3. Each year, there are 30 million to 40 million cases of measles around the globe.