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Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can be safely prevented with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
The viral disease causes a high fever, rash and other symptoms. Although most cases aren’t serious, even patients with mild disease are miserable, and there is a relatively high rate of complications and death.
For every 1,000 children who contract measles, around 1 to 3 will die, often from pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1 in 1,000 will develop encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, which can lead to permanent hearing loss or intellectual disability. About a fifth of unvaccinated patients require hospitalization.
Even if someone appears to recover unscathed, research shows the infection has negative effects on the immune system that can make people more susceptible to other illnesses for several years afterward.