MeaslesMeasles is a very contagious disease. It is caused by an RNA virus that is constantly changing. Symptoms of measles usually include severe coughing, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, sensitivity to light, and very high fever. Red spots with white grain-like centers appear along the gum line in the mouth two to four days after symptoms first appear. These spots are called Koplik spots because Henry Koplick first noticed them in 1896. The spots are important in diagnosing measles. A characteristic red rash of measles consists of red spots starting at the hairline and extending down to the face, body, and limbs. Measles usually ends with a complete recovery, but rare complications can occur in the lungs and brain. Measles may also be linked to multiple sclerosis and diabetes. In 1978, the U.S. Public Health Service began vaccinating against measles. All school-age children have been vaccinated. Two years later, the prevalence of the measles virus had decreased by 99 percent. Nowadays, measles is very rare and all children are vaccinated against this disease. MeaslesMeasles is a very contagious disease. It is caused by an RNA virus that is constantly changing. Symptoms of measles usually include severe coughing, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, sensitivity to light, and very high fever. Red spots with white grain-like centers appear along the gum line in the mouth two to four days after symptoms first appear. These spots are called Koplik spots because Henry Koplick first noticed them in 1896. The spots are important in diagnosing measles. A red rash characteristic of measles appears as red spots starting at the hairline and extending down to the face, body and limbs..