Measles virus (PCR)

Swab (respiratory) or EDTA blood

Measles virus (MeV) is an exclusively human pathogen which is extremely contagious and spreads through droplet infection (coughing, sneezing, speaking) or direct human contact.
Symptoms typically develop 10-14 days after exposure and include fever (often greater than 40 °C), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes. The characteritic measles rash begins several days after the fever starts and can last for over a week.

Common complications include diarrhea, laryngotracheobronchitis (croup), otitis media or even pneumonia or corneal ulceration as measles can suppress the immune system for weeks to months, contributing to bacterial superinfections.

The measles virus is a so-called neurotropic virus, as it can enter the central nervous system along peripheral nerves and haematogenously via the blood-brain barrier. This way, an infection with measles can lead to serious neurological complications which present in different forms of encephalitis and can be fatal.


An infection with measles can be prevented with vaccination which is efficacious, safe and well tolerated, and provides lifelong protection. People who have been vaccinated against measles but have incomplete protective immunity may experience a form of modified measles which are characterized by a prolonged incubation period, milder, and less characteristic symptoms (sparse and discrete rash of short duration).


Note: Every request for measles diagnostic through PCR (regardless of whether the result is positive or negative) has to be reported to the FOPH as even a suspected case of measles is subject to mandatory reporting and must be reported to the authorities within 24 hours.