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measles virus (rubeola)
Humans are the only natural host.
Epidemiology:
- infectious virus remained detectable on stainless steel surfaces for as long as 3 days
Laboratory:
- measles virus serology
- measles virus RNA
- measles virus N gene
- measles virus identified by culture
- see ARUP consult [1]
Management:
- mouthwash, hand sanitizers, & surface agents all eradicated measles virus in vitro [2]
- 4 of 7 mouthwashes tested (including 2 Listerine products widely available in the U.S.) eliminated detectable virus after a 30-second exposure
- hand sanitizers inactivated virus after 30-second exposures
- 4 commercially available alcohol- & aldehyde-based disinfectants eliminated stainless steel surface virus after 30 seconds to 5 minute exposures [2]
- an H2O2-based product reduced but did not eliminate surface virus[2]
Related
measles (1st disease)
Specific
SSPE measles virus
General
paramyxoviridae
Properties
KINGDOM: virus
GENOME-TYPE: RNA
SINGLE-STRANDED
NEGATIVE-STRAND
GENOME-SIZE: 16-20 kB
ENVELOPE: PRESENT
CAPSID-SYMMETRY: HELICAL
References
- ARUP Consult: Measles Virus - Rubeola
The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection & Interpretation
https://www.arupconsult.com/content/measles-virus
- Sandoval Flores LD, Addo MM, Steinmann E, Meister TL.
Susceptibility of Measles Virus to World Health Organization-Recommended Hand Rubs,
Oral Rinses, and Surface Disinfectants.
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025 Oct 14;12(11):ofaf627.
PMID: 41180003 PMCID: PMC12575076 Free PMC article.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12575076/