Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States reported 121 confirmed measles cases across 16 jurisdictions, the highest since 2019 elimination declaration.
- Globally, measles caused an estimated 128,000 deaths in 2021, mostly among children under 5 years old.
- Measles incidence in the WHO European Region surged to 90,000 cases in 2018 from under 5,000 in 2016.
- Incubation period for measles is 7-21 days, averaging 10-12 days.
- Prodromal phase of measles lasts 2-4 days with fever up to 104°F (40°C).
- Koplik spots appear 1-2 days before rash in 90% of measles cases.
- MMR vaccine contains live attenuated measles virus (Edmonston-Enders strain).
- Two doses of MMR vaccine provide 97% effectiveness against measles.
- First MMR dose at 12-15 months achieves 93% efficacy.
- Pneumonia complicates 5-10% of measles cases, often fatal in children.
- Encephalitis risk 1 per 1,000 cases, mortality 15%.
- SSPE incidence 1 in 1,000-2,000 in developing countries.
- Global measles mortality 128,000 in 2021, 95% in low-income countries.
- Case-fatality ratio (CFR) 1-5% in developing countries for children under 5.
- Pre-vaccine era US: 400-500 deaths yearly from 3-4 million cases.
Measles outbreaks are resurging globally despite being preventable with vaccination.
Clinical Aspects
Clinical Aspects Interpretation
Complications
Complications Interpretation
Epidemiology
Epidemiology Interpretation
Mortality and Burden
Mortality and Burden Interpretation
Vaccination
Vaccination Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 3ECDCecdc.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 4GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 5AFROafro.who.intVisit source
- Reference 6PAHOpaho.orgVisit source
- Reference 7SANTEPUBLIQUEFRANCEsantepubliquefrance.frVisit source
- Reference 8HEALTHhealth.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 9NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 10UPTODATEuptodate.comVisit source
- Reference 11EMEDICINEemedicine.medscape.comVisit source
- Reference 12WWWNCwwwnc.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 13NINDSninds.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 14PEDIATRICSpediatrics.aappublications.orgVisit source
- Reference 15AAFPaafp.orgVisit source
- Reference 16JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 17PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 18IMMUNIZATIONDATAimmunizationdata.who.intVisit source
- Reference 19GAVIgavi.orgVisit source
- Reference 20FDAfda.govVisit source
- Reference 21ACOGacog.orgVisit source
- Reference 22COCHRANELIBRARYcochranelibrary.comVisit source
- Reference 23RAREDISEASESrarediseases.orgVisit source
- Reference 24HEALTHDATAhealthdata.orgVisit source
- Reference 25THELANCETthelancet.comVisit source
- Reference 26DATAdata.unicef.orgVisit source
- Reference 27RELIEFWEBreliefweb.intVisit source
- Reference 28MERCKMANUALSmerckmanuals.comVisit source
- Reference 29ACCESSMEDICINEaccessmedicine.mhmedical.comVisit source
- Reference 30NATUREnature.comVisit source
- Reference 31DERMNETNZdermnetnz.orgVisit source
- Reference 32NEJMnejm.orgVisit source
- Reference 33RUBELLAELIMININATIONrubellaeliminination.orgVisit source
- Reference 34VACCINESAFETYvaccinesafety.eduVisit source
- Reference 35HISTORYOFVACCINEShistoryofvaccines.orgVisit source
- Reference 36IMMUNIZATIONAGENDA2030immunizationagenda2030.orgVisit source
- Reference 37EMROemro.who.intVisit source






