The 411 on Measles

What you need to know about this serious virus.

Measles Are Back! - This disease, which was once thought to be a problem of the past, has come back with a vengeance. Read more about measles, what’s behind our recent outbreak and what you can do to protect yourself from this virus. — Kellee Terrell(Photo: Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Measles Are Back! - This disease, which was once thought to be a problem of the past, has come back with a vengeance. Read more about measles, what’s behind our recent outbreak and what you can do to protect yourself from this virus. — Kellee Terrell(Photo: Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Corbis)

New Measles Outbreak in Chicago Daycare Center - Chicago is the newest city to have a measles concern. According to reports, public health officials are looking at a “cluster of measles” that were reported at a KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Five babies have been tested for measles, with two confirmed cases and three more results still pending. (Photo: NBC Chicago)

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New Measles Outbreak in Chicago Daycare Center - Chicago is the newest city to have a measles concern. According to reports, public health officials are looking at a “cluster of measles” that were reported at a KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Five babies have been tested for measles, with two confirmed cases and three more results still pending. (Photo: NBC Chicago)

Disneyland Outbreak Passes 100 People - The recent measles outbreak has reached 102 people, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The highly publicized outbreak, which has been linked to Disneyland, has mostly occurred among those who were not vaccinated from the disease, Health Day reported. A disease that was once eradicated, measles has made a comeback with 600 cases reported in 2014. (Photo: George Frey /Landov)

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Disneyland Outbreak Passes 100 People - The recent measles outbreak has reached 102 people, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The highly publicized outbreak, which has been linked to Disneyland, has mostly occurred among those who were not vaccinated from the disease, Health Day reported. A disease that was once eradicated, measles has made a comeback with 600 cases reported in 2014. (Photo: George Frey /Landov)

Obama Wants Parents to Vaccinate Their Kids - This week, President Barack Obama told NBC News that parents should get their kids vaccinated. The president emphasized that people who don’t get vaccinated pose risks for babies and other people. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Obama Wants Parents to Vaccinate Their Kids - This week, President Barack Obama told NBC News that parents should get their kids vaccinated. The president emphasized that people who don’t get vaccinated pose risks for babies and other people. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

What’s Measles? - Measles, also called rubeola, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the measles virus. Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs.(Photo: Steve Pope/epa/Corbis)

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What’s Measles? - Measles, also called rubeola, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the measles virus. Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs.(Photo: Steve Pope/epa/Corbis)

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What Are the Symptoms? - The measles have many common symptoms: Fever, runny nose, a rash all over their body and fatigue. Two or three days after initial symptoms appear, you might find tiny white spots with bluish-white centers forming inside your mouth. (Photo: Getty Images)

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What Are the Symptoms? - The measles have many common symptoms: Fever, runny nose, a rash all over their body and fatigue. Two or three days after initial symptoms appear, you might find tiny white spots with bluish-white centers forming inside your mouth. (Photo: Getty Images)

Complications After Birth - While low birth babies can suffer complications while in the hospital, they are also prone to complications later in life that include high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. A recent study found that Black women who were born with a low birth weight had an increased chance of developing type-2 diabetes in adulthood. (Photo: ERproductions Ltd/Blend Images/Corbis)

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African-Americans and Measles - Over the past decade, studies have shown that inner-city youth and poor Blacks have an increased risk of contracting measles given our lower vaccination rates.(Photo: ERproductions Ltd/Blend Images/Corbis)

Polar Vortex Brings in “Pollen Vortex” This Allergy Season - Health experts are predicting that the extreme winter we experienced this year is going to make allergy season one of the worst ever. Why? Because the winter pushed back pollen season and now all of the plants are dumping pollen right now instead of in phases, Mother Jones writes. Are you ready for the Pollen Vortex?(Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

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How Are Measles Transmitted? - Measles are incredibly contagious, with the virus living in the mouths and throats of those infected. The virus spreads by sneezing, coughing, touching infected surfaces, etc. (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

Treating Measles - Here’s the deal: There isn’t a treatment that will get rid of your measles. But treatment such as fever reducers, antibiotics and vitamin A supplements can help relieve your symptoms. If you’ve been exposed to measles and are not vaccinated, doctors may vaccinate you to keep the virus from replicating in your body. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Treating Measles - Here’s the deal: There isn’t a treatment that will get rid of your measles. But treatment such as fever reducers, antibiotics and vitamin A supplements can help relieve your symptoms. If you’ve been exposed to measles and are not vaccinated, doctors may vaccinate you to keep the virus from replicating in your body. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

What's Behind the Increase in Infections? - One of the major factors behind our recent measles outbreak is people not getting vaccinated for the disease. And from there, it spreads throughout communities of people who are not vaccinated either. (Photo: Mark Kegans/Getty Images)

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What's Behind the Increase in Infections? - One of the major factors behind our recent measles outbreak is people not getting vaccinated for the disease. And from there, it spreads throughout communities of people who are not vaccinated either. (Photo: Mark Kegans/Getty Images)

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Get Vaccinated! - Mostly everyone — babies, children and adults — need to get the MMR vaccine, which prevents measles and two other viral diseases — mumps and rubella. A 2014 study found that African-Americans respond better to the measles vaccine compared to whites and Latinos. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Get Vaccinated! - Mostly everyone — babies, children and adults — need to get the MMR vaccine, which prevents measles and two other viral diseases — mumps and rubella. A 2014 study found that African-Americans respond better to the measles vaccine compared to whites and Latinos. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Complications - Measles are not a game. Around 30 percent of people with measles will be hospitalized for pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea and/or swelling of the brain. Also, one to two of every 1,000 kids with measles will die from the virus. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Complications - Measles are not a game. Around 30 percent of people with measles will be hospitalized for pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea and/or swelling of the brain. Also, one to two of every 1,000 kids with measles will die from the virus. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)