Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Causes of Measles
Measles is caused by infection with the rubeola virus. Once infected the virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat. Physical contact, coughing and sneezing can spread the infection. Infected droplets of mucus may also land on a surface where they remain active and contagious for around two hours.
Once inside the body, the virus multiplies in the back of the throat and lungs, then spreads throughout the body, including the respiratory system and the skin.
About 90% of people around an infected person will catch the virus.
It takes between 6 and 21 days for the virus to establish itself (the incubation period), but most people show symptoms after about 10 days.
Someone with measles is infectious for 2-4 days before the red rash appears and for about 5 days after it appears.
Anyone who has not had measles can be infected. Cases of re-infection after having had the virus are extremely rare because the body will have built up an immunity to the virus.
