5 Things Families Should Know, From An ER Doctor

Historically, measles has been an illness doctors only learned about in textbooks. With increasing measles outbreaks in the U.S. and around the world, that’s changing.

The measles rash (seen here) often starts on the face and neck before spreading downward.

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Here are the numbers: The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported 2,255 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. in 2025. There have been 416 more confirmed cases as of the first twenty-three days of January. An ongoing South Carolina outbreak hit 789 cases as of January 27, 2026.

Here are five things families need to know about the measles, from the perspective of a practicing ER doctor.

1. The Measles Is More Than “Just A Rash”

The measles, in fact, is a full-body viral infection. Here’s how it typically goes. Following an exposure, symptoms usually…