For a child who is not vaccinated against measles — one of the world’s most infectious viruses — no classroom, school bus or grocery store is safe. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to an infected person will catch it, and once measles takes root, the virus can damage the lungs, kidneys and the brain.
With falling U.S. vaccination rates and outbreaks that have caused more than 580 cases and at least two deaths, health experts expect measles to infect hundreds or even thousands more across the nation. Here is how measles takes over the body.
Unlike viruses that require person-to-person contact, measles lingers in the air for up to two hours after the person carrying it has left the space.
A child can inhale virus-containing droplets in a…