Measles was one of the disease we have heard of but not experienced within the past 25-30 years. In the year 2000 the US declared that measles had been eradicated. This was mostly due to the success of the MMR vaccination.

Let’s discuss what measles actually is and why we need to protect ourselves.

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What is Measles?

Measles is a virus that has been around for a very long time. The first records of the disease come from writings from the 9th century. In the 16th century, measles became more widespread throughout Europe.

This virus is spread through the air and infects the respiratory system including nose, throat, and lungs. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. One person on average can go on to infect 18 people. If someone infected with measles coughs in a room someone else can walk into that room 2 hours later and become infected.

If someone is unvaccinated for measles then there is a 90% chance they will become infected when exposed.

This is why it is so easy for outbreaks to occur.

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How does measles virus affect your immune system?

When someone is infected with measles, the virus is able to wipe out the body’s immune memory. After an infection of Flu or Chickenpox the body is able to create things called antibodies which will protect you from infection in the future. Measles is able to erase all the cells that produce antibodies and remember past infections. After a measles infection you are now able to be fully infected by any disease with no immune protection.

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Symptoms of measles

Some people have less severe symptoms and are able to recover. These symptoms range from coughs, runny nose, fever, and the famous red rash. Others who are not so lucky can have worse symptoms such as ear infections, pneumonia, brain swelling, hearing loss, and even death.

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Why did Measles disappear?

Like many diseases in the US, measles slowly died out both due to an increase in public health measures and due to the creation of the vaccine. The first vaccine was made in 1963 and that same version of the virus is now used in the MMR vaccine. After that more people were vaccinated against measles and it was deemed eradicated in 2000.

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MMR

The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (German Measles) vaccine was created in 1971 after outbreaks occurred. The 3 viruses were combined into one vaccine for multiple reasons. The vaccines were created very similarly, contained similar ingredients, and made it easier to vaccinate a child at once. To make parents and children’s immunization schedule easier they were combined. Research showed that when combined they offered the same protection as given separately.

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Citations

Cleveland Clinic. (2025, February 28). Measles (Rubeola). Cleveland Clinic Health Library. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8584-measles 

Kondamudi, N. P., Tobin, E. H., & Waymack, J. R. (2025, May 5). Measles. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448068/ 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). Measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine live: Package insert. https://www.fda.gov/files/vaccines%2C%20blood%20%26%20biologics/published/Package-Insert-Measles-Mumps-and-Rubella-Virus-Vaccine-Live_2.pdf