Measles typically starts with cough and cold-like symptoms, fever, and often conjunctivitis and sensitivity to light (photophobia). Small white spots develop inside the cheeks and behind the lips before a skin rash of spots then breaks out on the face and behind the ears which spreads down the body. The rash can be raised but is not usually itchy.18,20

The most common complications include otitis media in 7-9% of cases, diarrhoea (8%), pneumonia (1-6%), and less commonly, encephalitis, meningitis, seizures and blindness. In extreme cases, there can be 1-3 deaths per 1,000 cases, usually due to bacterial complications and pneumonia. Those under 5 years and the immunocompromised are most at risk.18,20