In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Israel, the Ministry of Health reported recently on the 2018 outbreak.

State of Israel
Israel/CIA

According to health officials, from March through the end of December 2018, as a result of the disease being imported to Israel by a small number of tourists and visitors who later infected an unvaccinated population, more than 3150 individuals were infected with measles last year.

The Ministry of Health still reports frequently on possible measles exposures into 2019.

Measles is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes followed by a rash that typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body. It generally takes 8 to 12 days, but can be as long as 21 days, from exposure to the first symptom, usually fever. The measles rash usually appears two to three days after the fever begins. Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily by coughing, sneezing or even being in the same room with someone who has measles. People with measles are contagious from four days before to four days after rash onset.

How contagious is measles? Answer: Very