03/10/2026
Measles is a disease caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat phlegm of an infected person and spreads easily through breathing, coughing, and sneezing.
When someone with measles coughs, sneezes, or talks, infected droplets spray into the air (where other people can breathe them in) or land on a surface (where they can make others sick) for several hours. If others breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.
Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of non-immune people close to the infected person will be infected. Infected people can spread measles to others from 4 days before the rash appears through 4 days after the rash appears.
Measles can be serious:
▪ About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the US who get measles will be hospitalized (the risk is higher in children younger than age 5 years)
▪ 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage
▪ As many as 1 in 20 children with measles will get pneumonia
▪ 1-3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care
To access this original National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) topic on measles, please see https://www.nfid.org/infectious-disease/measles/
To learn more about Genesis Reference Labs’ molecular testing offerings which include using PCR technology to identify measles, and other important respiratory pathogens, please call: (844) 510-0194.
