Spotting Measles

Measles is a contagious childhood disease. Also called rubeola, it’s caused by a virus. An infected person is contagious several days before the rash appears and remains so until the rash is gone.

The rash, which shows up about four days after the onset of cold-like symptoms, usually starts on the face, and spreads to the entire body. It starts to fade within several days. Measles is rarely serious, but in a small number of cases can lead to brain damage or death.

Data on measles in the U.S. (year of statistics in parentheses):

* Number of cases annually, 508; number of deaths annually, one (1996).

* Percentage of U.S. children 19 to 35 months old vaccinated: 92.1% (1998).

* Percentage of California children 19 to 35 months old vaccinated: 91.5% (estimated, 1998).

* Percentage of L.A. children 19 to 35 months old vaccinated: 89.5% (estimated, 1998).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention