Measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease with flu-like symptoms that usually appear 7–12 days after infection, followed by a measles rash a few days later.
The illness typically lasts 7–10 days.
The best protection against measles is vaccination with two doses of the MMR vaccine (measles, rubella, and mumps), given at 18 months and again at 12 years in Iceland. Pregnant women should avoid vaccination and pregnancy for one month after vaccination.
Could I have measles?
If you have had measles before or had two vaccinations of the MMR vaccine you are unlikely to have measles.
Initial symptoms of measles include:
cold symptoms
red and watery eyes
fever over 38°C
small white dots on the inside of the cheeks
loss of appetite
fatigue, and irritability.
A rash usually appears 2–4 days after the first symptoms and disappears within a week.
Measles rash
A rash usually appears 2–4 days after the first symptoms and fades and then disappears within a week.
The worst feeling is usually during the 1–2 days after the rash appears.
The rash consists of small reddish-brown areas or slightly raised spots, which may coalesce into larger spots.
Appear first on the head and neck, then spread over the whole body.
Sometimes itch.
Can resemble rashes that accompany other childhood diseases, e.g. rubella, fifth disease (roseola), etc.
The rash is very unlikely measles if you have been vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine.
If you suspect you have measles, contact your healthcare provider immediately for advice.
How to treat measles?
To treat measles symptoms:
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce fever and aches. Feeling better promotes increased fluid intake and lowering temperature reduces fluid loss.
Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Dim the lights to reduce sensitivity to light.
Clean around the eyes with a damp cotton pad.
Ensure good ventilation.
In severe cases, a person with measles may need to be hospitalized:
If the person does not drink enough, especially children
If the person is short of breath
Sharp chest pain
Coughing up blood
Drowsiness
Confusion
Convulsions/seizures
Contact primary care (online chat, message on Heilsuvera, or call) if you have been in close contact with a person with measles and you are not vaccinated or have not had measles.
Preventing the spread of measles
Isolate yourself for at least 5 days from when the rash started to prevent the spreading of the infection. Avoid work, school, gatherings, and close contact with young children and pregnant women.
Infected persons are generally infectious for 4 days before symptoms and for 4 days after the rash appears, but can be infectious for longer if still symptomatic.
If a child in daycare or school has measles the school needs to be notified so the appropriate measures can be taken.
How to prevent measles
Measles can be prevented by vaccination with two doses of the MMR vaccine. The vaccine is safe and protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
In Iceland, the MMR vaccine is given at 18 months and 12 years
Pregnant women should not be vaccinated
Those with a history of measles are protected and do not need vaccination
If a person cannot be vaccinated but has been exposed to an infection, it is possible to give them immunoglobulin, which is a blood product. This applies to:
Children under 6 months of age.
Pregnant women who are not fully vaccinated or who have not had measles before.
People with a weakened immune system.
Complications of measles
Most of the time, measles gets better without causing additional problems. Those who are most at risk of developing complications are:
Children under 1 year of age.
Malnourished children.
Children with a weakened immune system, e.g. due to leukemia.
Teenagers and adults.
The lowest risk of complications is in school-age children.
If a pregnant person gets measles, there is a high risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and other problems in the mother and fetus/newborn.
Common complications
Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration.
Middle ear infections can cause ear pain.
Other infections, e.g. eye infections, pneumonia, etc.
Increased frequency of various bacterial infections for a few months after.
Rare complications
Blindness and other visual problems
Meningitis or encephalitis (a life-threatening condition)
Measles pneumonia (a life-threatening condition)
Liver failure
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis can occur late in about 1 in 1000 people who get measles, usually 7–10 years after the measles infection, and is fatal.
Further information
Measles infection prevention Published February 2024
A case of measles in Iceland. News 3.2.2024
Diseases subject to registration
Diseases subject to registration are those that can spread widely in society and, at the same time, threaten public health. Doctors must notify The Chief Epidemiologist of persons sickened by measles with the personal identification number of the infected person. Still, reports to the Chief Epidemiologist are also received from laboratories that confirm the diagnosis. The purpose of reporting an infectious disease is to prevent the spread of infection through targeted measures, e.g., isolation, transmission place, treatment of the infected, and tracking of transmission between individuals. Information about the probable transmission place, transmission time, and symptoms must accompany notifications to satisfy these conditions. In this way, infected persons can be linked epidemiologically, the effects of the infection can be assessed, and a response can be taken.
Service provider
Directorate of Health