For kids and teens
Contents of page
- What is ‘measles’?
- how is it caused?
- it can be serious
- How does it spread?
- It can be prevented!
Measles
Measles, also called red measles or rubeola, is an infectious disease caused by the measles virus
How is it caused?
Measles is an infectious disease caused by the measles virus.
Measles can cause a fever (high temperature), cough, runny nose, aches and pains, and red, watery eyes.
Measles also causes a blotchy red skin rash that begins on the face and then spreads down the body. Measles has a characteristic red rash.
It can be serious
Some people who get measles may have to go to the hospital. Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death.
How Does it Spread?
Measles is very contagious…
The measles virus spreads through the air in droplets when someone with measles coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can stay in the air for up to 2 hours.
See how easy it is so spread – and prevent! – measles…
The measles virus is so contagious that up to 9 out of 10 people exposed to measles will become infected if they are not protected from measles. Measles is highly contagious, can be serious, and is easy to prevent with safe and effective vaccines. The measles vaccine provides protection from measles.
Measles Can be Prevented!
The best protection from measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Strengthen your defence. Get vaccinated. To learn how vaccines protect you against serious diseases, visit Canada.ca/Vaccines.
Be a champion. Get vaccinated.
Vaccines help you win the fight against diseases. To learn how vaccines can make you a champion, visit
Canada.ca/Vaccines.
Vaccines—including the MMR vaccine—are safe and effective.
Vaccines are tested and monitored year after year by scientists and health care professionals.
Vaccines work!
Measles cases in Canada have decreased by >99% because of the measles vaccine (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2019).
Vaccines do not cause autism
Explore the myth about a link between autism and vaccines in this video from NOVA: “Vaccines—Calling the Shots“. The mother of a 16-year-old with autism describes her own personal journey to becoming an autism advocate and investigating the alleged connection between autism and the MMR vaccine. Numerous scientific studies have failed to find any evidence for a vaccine–autism link; the original 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield that had suggested a connection has been proven to be fraudulent and has since been retracted.