Measles

So what’s all this about measles?

There have been multiple measles outbreaks across the country since the start of 2025. These outbreaks have primarily been in communities with low vaccination rates against measles. Fortunately, 95% of Virginian kindergarteners are fully vaccinated against measles. However, there are more vulnerable, underimmunized communities located within the Commonwealth including the greater Richmond area.

Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. It can make people very sick, especially children. Measles spreads easily from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The measles virus stays in the air for 2 hours after a sick person leaves the area. 

The symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The fever may start 2-4 days before the rash. A more subtle finding you may see is something called Koplik spots. These are typically painless, white spots on the inside of the cheeks. These are DIFFERENT than the ulcers we see in the common childhood illness of hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Measles can lead to serious health complications like pneumonia and brain infection. These complications are more common in young children and can lead to blindness, deafness, developmental delay, and death.

The good news?

There is a vaccine! The best way to prevent measles is by getting vaccinated. The measles vaccine is very effective (97%) and is usually given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Children should get two doses of the vaccine: the first dose at 12-15 months old and the second dose at 4-6 years old. This is a safe and effective vaccine. If you and your family have had 2 MMR vaccines, there is no need to be concerned about measles.

It is important to make sure children are vaccinated to keep them safe from this illness. Vaccination not only protects the person who gets the shot but also helps prevent the spread of the disease to others who are too young or don’t have an immune system that can respond to a vaccine. This is called herd immunity and is how the United States eliminated measles in 2000. Unfortunately, vaccination rates have dropped since then, leading to the current outbreaks.

Who needs to be tested for measles?

If you think your child has measles, they should be evaluated right away. Please call ahead prior to arriving at the clinic so proper precautions may be taken to protect our families and staff. Based on current guidelines, anyone who meets ALL of the following criteria should be tested:

• Without 2 MMR vaccines
• With symptoms
• Recent travel or known exposures

How do we test for measles?

KidMed follows guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and multiple children’s hospitals. The current standard of testing includes a nose swab, a throat swab, a urine test, and a blood test that checks for measles antibodies. These tests can all be performed at KidMed.

What is the treatment for measles? 

Measles is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not help. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends that all individuals with confirmed measles receive a single, specific dose of vitamin A two days in a row. There is no evidence to support giving vitamin A to PREVENT measles, and too much vitamin A can make your child sick. 

Remember, measles can be prevented with vaccination, so make sure to keep up with your child’s vaccine schedule to protect them and others in the community. Very few individuals should NOT receive the MMR vaccine, including pregnant women and those who are severely immunocompromised. Previously unvaccinated adults can receive their two doses 28 days apart and have full immunity within the following 2 weeks. 

Please contact your child’s primary care provider for guidance on the age-appropriate vaccine schedule, which may change depending on the risk of travel or local outbreak. If your child does not have a current primary care provider, call 804-864-8055 to ask about the closest Virginia Vaccines for Children (VVFC) site where your child can receive the needed immunizations through the Virginia Health Department (VDH) free of charge. While KidMed does not offer childhood vaccines, we are here for all your child’s urgent health needs!