Do Masks Help Protect Against Measles?

As you are likely aware, measles is going around.

And yes, getting vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine is your best protection against measles.

“If you have cancer and a weakened immune system, you should avoid traveling to places with ongoing measles outbreaks. Wash your hands often and avoid being around people who are sick with fever, rash, cough, runny nose, or red eyes.

Because people with cancer might not be able to get the MMR shot, it’s important that everyone around them is vaccinated. This helps keep them safe. Whether they are traveling or staying home, all close contacts of people with cancer should be up to date on the MMR vaccine to help protect the patient.”

What People With Cancer Should Know About Measles

But, what about those who can’t depend on an MMR vaccine for protection?

What can they do?

Do Masks Help Protect Against Measles?

Since it is getting harder to simply avoid places with ongoing outbreaks, can they wear a mask?

Will that protect them?

Fortunately, a mask can help protect you against measles, but it depends on the type of mask.

“Recommended respiratory protection is a respirator that is at least as protective as a fit-tested, NIOSH-certified disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirator.”

Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings

For good protection against measles, you want to wear:

• a fit-tested N95 respirator (best), or
• a well-fitting KN95 or N95 respirator (still very good), or
• a surgical mask (good, but not great)
• a cloth mask (least protection)

And of course, if someone has measles, you want them to wear a well-fitting KN95 or N95 mask so that they don’t expose anyone that they might be around!

What about goggles or a face shield?

If you are around someone who is coughing, then goggles or a face shield in addition to your mask might be a good idea.

What else?

If you are in a high-risk group and have been exposed to measles, be sure to notify your health care provider and your local health department as soon as possible. You might need immune globulin (post-exposure prophylaxis) to help keep you from getting measles, or at least a severe case of measles.

Mostly know that if you are in a high-risk group, you should talk to your provider about how to handle the rise in measles cases.

“If there’s measles in their community, it’s probably a good idea to contact their clinical immunologist and come up with a plan, and discuss it with their families, as well,” said Ballow.

Immunoglobulin therapy protects against measles study shows

They should let you know how aggressive you need to be in avoiding other people in your area who might have measles.

And again, encourage everyone around you to get vaccinated and protected!

Herd immunity works!

Lastly, know that measles is very contagious and that the measles virus can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area.

Also, someone with measles can be contagious from 4 days before they develop the classic measles rash, so they might not know that they have measles yet!

That makes it important to be on the lookout for news on exposures and outbreaks in your area if you are at high risk for severe measles.

More on Controlling Measles Outbreaks

• Measles and the MMR Vaccine
• Measles Evaluation and Screening Algorithms
• Where Will the Next Measles Outbreak Hit?
• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings
• Stay informed to protect against contagious disease outbreaks
• What People With Cancer Should Know About Measles
• Minimize Measles Transmission in Healthcare Settings
• EMS Provider Guidance for Suspected Measles Patients
• Measles Prevention and Control Implementation
• Measles Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for Non-Symptomatic Susceptible Contacts
• Measles and Cancer: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
• Immunoglobulin therapy protects against measles study shows
• Vaccines, maintenance, and post-exposure prophylaxis
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccination and Management of Obstetric–Gynecologic Patients During a Measles Outbreak

Last Updated on September 16, 2026