Measles facts: 8 myths debunked

Measles is a very contagious virus that causes fever, respiratory symptoms, rash and can lead to serious health problems. It spreads through the air and can stay in a room for up to two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes, meaning you don’t have to be in the same room as someone with measles to get sick. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with measles will get the virus.

For a long time, there were very few cases of measles in the United States. But unfortunately, cases of measles are on the rise and the majority of those cases have been in Texas.

"When young children get measles, about 1 in 5 end up in the hospital," said Carla Garcia Carreno, M.D., Infectious Disease Specialist at Children's Health℠.

Dr. Carreno and Jeffrey Kahn, M.D., Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Children’s Health, share the facts about measles and how to protect your child.

Myth #1: Measles isn't a big problem in the U.S. anymore.

Measles fact: Measles continues to be a problem in the United States.

In the 1950s, before the measles vaccine was widely available, there were 3 to 4 million cases annually in the U.S. Hundreds of people died from measles and tens of thousands were hospitalized every year.

By 2000, thanks to widespread vaccination, the United States declared measles "eliminated." In 2004, there were just 37 cases of measles in the U.S., and those cases typically happened when unvaccinated people traveled to places where measles is more common.

Unfortunately, in 2025, more than 600 measles cases have already been reported in the U.S. More than 500 of them have been in Texas and 98% of those cases happened in people who were not vaccinated against measles.

"The measles outbreak in West Texas is showing us what happens when there is a large population of children who are unvaccinated," Dr. Kahn said.

Myth #2: Measles is a mild illness that healthy kids recover from easily.

Measles fact: Measles can lead to serious complications and even death.

Measles can lead to complications even in healthy children, including:

• Ear infections, which can lead to hearing loss

• Pneumonia

• Diarrhea and dehydration

About 1 in 5 children under 5 who get measles end up in the hospital, often with breathing problems or problems with the brain. A handful of children may experience more severe complications, including:

• Acute encephalitis (brain swelling) that can cause permanent brain damage

• Blindness

• Immune amnesia (a little-understood condition where the immune system loses its memory of infections it fought in the past, leaving a person vulnerable to more infections in the future)

• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare but fatal brain disorder that happens 7-10 years after a measles infection

• Death, in about 1 to 3 of every 1,000 cases

Myth #3: There is a cure for measles.

Measles fact: There is NO cure for measles.

Doctors can treat measles symptoms to help a child feel better. But there is no actual cure for the measles virus. Doctors typically recommend rest while a child’s immune system fights off the virus, along with treatments to manage complications if a child develops them.

Myth #4: Vitamin A or cod liver oil can cure or prevent measles.

Measles fact: Vaccination is the ONLY way to prevent measles.

Vitamin A does not cure or prevent measles. Cod liver oil, a dietary supplement that’s high in vitamin A and vitamin D, does not cure or prevent measles.

Some research has shown that vitamin A may help reduce the risk of complications, but only for a child who already has measles. A doctor may give those children one dose of vitamin A for two days.

It's important to know that taking too much vitamin A can be toxic.

"Taking vitamin A every day will not prevent measles, but it could make a child very sick," Dr. Kahn said. "It can be toxic, building up in the liver and causing a number of health problems."

Myth #5: The measles vaccine can give you measles.

Measles fact: The measles vaccine cannot give you measles.

The measles vaccine does not give you measles. It teaches your body how to recognize measles, so if you come into contact with the virus, your body is ready to fight it off. After the vaccine, a small percentage of people can have a fever with or without a rash. This reaction is not measles and it is not contagious.

Doctors typically recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects children against measles, mumps and rubella. According to the CDC, two doses of the vaccine is 97% effective in preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective.

"We do everything we can to listen to families and answer any questions they have about vaccines," Dr. Carreno said. "We want families to know that measles vaccines have been around for 60 years. They are very safe and effective."

Myth #6: Measles vaccines can cause autism.

Measles fact: Measles vaccines do not cause autism. No vaccine causes autism.

Vaccines do not cause autism.

A small study in the late 1990s suggested a link between autism and vaccines. Scientists reviewed that study and found many problems with the data and how the study was conducted. The doctor who published it had his medical license taken away for ethical violations and falsifying research.

Scientists have done many follow up studies and found no connection between autism and vaccines.

Myth #7: Getting measles is better than getting vaccinated.

Measles fact: The measles vaccine is much safer than getting measles.

Measles vaccines are safe. A measles infection can be deadly.  

"Measles infections can be very severe and even fatal," Dr. Carreno said. "The vaccine is the best way to prevent measles and there are no long-term side effects."

Myth #8: Only kids can get measles.

Measles fact: People of any age can get measles.

Anyone can get measles. The CDC recommends that older children, teens and adults also get the measles vaccine if they were not vaccinated as children.

Get vaccinated

The best way to prevent measles and its complications is by getting the MMR vaccine. If you are not sure if your child is up to date on their MMR vaccine, contact your pediatrician to find out. If you need a pediatrician, we have many to choose from at several locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Learn more about vaccines and how they can protect your child from serious illnesses.