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Measles
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Close-up of a person's torso showing a widespread red, blotchy rash characteristic of measles, with hands pulling up a green shirt to expose the skin. Measles Measles
Gloved hands draw liquid from a vial into a syringe, overlaid on a digitally colored microscopic image of a virus with round particles in clusters.
Find out from Dr. Tina Tan of Northwestern University why adult vaccination against various types of diseases is important
Three line graphs display the dramatic decline in reported cases of diphtheria, polio, and measles in the United States from 1920 to 2019, each showing a sharp drop after the introduction of their respective vaccines. Diphtheria cases fell after 1921, polio after 1955, and measles after 1963, illustrating the impact of mass vaccination programs. An inset highlights an increase in measles cases after 2010. Infographic showing estimated lives saved by childhood vaccinations worldwide from 1974 to 2024, with syringe-shaped bars for each disease. Measles tops the list at 93.71 million lives saved, followed by tetanus, whooping cough, and others, for a total of 153.84 million lives saved. Vaccines by the numbers A chart showing the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended immunization schedule for children from birth to 6 years, listing vaccines and timing for each dose across a timeline, with color-coded markers for standard and high-risk recommendations.
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measles summary
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Measles: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Added mention of the possible loss of measles elimination status in the United States in late 2026. Nov 11, 2026
Add new Web site: NHS inform - Measles. Jul 09, 2026
New questions and answers added to top of article. Feb 09, 2026
Media added. Jul 09, 2025
Questions and answers added. Mar 21, 2025
Added interactive line chart of measles cases in the United States from 1960–2024. Mar 07, 2025
Media added. Feb 24, 2025
Add new Web site: WebMD - Measles. Aug 22, 2024
Add new Web site: NHS - Measles. Sep 05, 2023
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Measles: An Overview of a Re-Emerging Disease in Children and Immunocompromised Patients. Jun 21, 2023
Add new Web site: Johns Hopkins Medicine - Health - Measles: what you should know. May 08, 2023
Add new Web site: Nature - Measles. Mar 31, 2023
Add new Web site: Cleveland Clinic - Measles. Jan 06, 2023
Add new Web site: CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Measles. Nov 21, 2022
Add new Web site: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Measles (Rubeola). Sep 06, 2022
Add new Web site: Verywell Health - Measles. Jul 05, 2022
Added mention of the number of measles deaths reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in early 2020. Jan 09, 2020
Article updated to mention the 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa. Information also added on “immune amnesia” induced by measles infection. Dec 06, 2019
Added information on the dramatic global increase in measles cases in 2019 reported by the World Health Organization. Sep 27, 2019
Added information about the reemergence of measles in countries where the disease previously had been eradicated. Sep 03, 2019
Article restructured and information on the reemergence of measles in the United States added. Jan 24, 2019
Added video. Jan 29, 2016
Added information on measles vaccines and on efforts to increase measles vaccination globally. Dec 23, 2014
Add new Web site: IndiaNetzone - Measles. Apr 06, 2014
Add new Web site: World Health Organisation - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: Patient - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: eMedicineHealth - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: Medscape - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: Healthline - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: ILoveIndia.com - Biography of Bhimsen Joshi. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: MedicineNet.com - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: Better Health Channel - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: NHS Choices - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Add new Web site: Mayo Clinic - Measles. Jun 28, 2013
Added new Web site: Matinee Classics - Biography of Raymond Massey. Sep 02, 2008
Added new Web site: The Nemours Foundation - For Parents - Measles. Sep 25, 2006
Article revised and updated. May 18, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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