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Measles
Rubeola

As one of the most infectious viruses known to mankind, measles has been a scourge for centuries.

Chapter 1
Before the Measles Vaccine

Before a vaccine was made, there was not much that could be done to prevent measles infections beyond recognizing cases and using social distancing measures.

910
Measles and Smallpox Described Separately

1657
Measles Appears in Boston

Chapter 2
Work Begins on a Measles Vaccine

Once the measles virus was isolated in the lab, the race was on for a safe and effective vaccine.

1954
Thomas Peebles Isolates the Measles Virus

February 8, 1960
One Measles Strain, Many Vaccine Attempts

1961
A Flock of Chickens Changes Everything

1962
A Killed-Virus Vaccine Fails

1968
A More Attenuated Measles Vaccine

Chapter 3
Measles Vaccine Success

A few bumps along the way toward elimination of measles in the United States did not stop progress.

1971
MMR Combination Vaccine Debuts

1989
Low Vaccination Rates Lead to Outbreaks

Chapter 4
Post-Elimination Measles Emergence

Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine misinformation/disinformation continued to put children at risk all over the world

December 31, 2008
American Measles Outbreaks Increase

2011
Measles in France, United States

January 31, 2015
Measles Spreads from Disneyland

September 27, 2016
Measles Certified Eliminated from Americas

July 11, 2017
35 Measles Deaths in Europe, Thousands of Cases

August 24, 2018
Measles Circulates in Venezuela Again