About Measles

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Measles is an acute febrile rash illness caused by the measles virus. It is highly contagious and can be fatal in severe cases. The virus spreads through various routes, including airborne transmission, droplet infection, and contact transmission. The most common age group affected is children around one year old, followed by those aged 6 to 11 months and two years old.

However, in recent years, an increase in adult measles cases has become a concern, with many cases reported among individuals in their teens and twenties.

Symptoms of measles appear after an incubation period of about 10 to 12 days, beginning with cold-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and a runny nose. This is followed by several days of continued fever, and then a high fever (above 39°C) and a rash.

Complications such as pneumonia and otitis media can occur, and encephalitis is believed to develop in about 0.1% (1 in 1,000) of cases.

Because the virus is extremely contagious, handwashing and mask-wearing alone are not sufficient for prevention. The most effective way to protect oneself is to receive the vaccine and prevent the onset of the disease altogether.

In Japan, measles vaccination has been conducted for many years. However, for a certain period, only one dose was given, so about 5% to 10% of people did not acquire immunity. Below is the estimated number of doses based on birth year:


●Born before 1972 (currently age 52 and above)
→0 doses (likely not vaccinated)


●Born between 1972 and 1990 (currently age 34 to 52)
→1 dose


●Born in or after 1990 (currently age 34 and below)
→1 or 2 doses