The highly-contagious virus that causes measles actually spreads through a receptor in the trachea called nectin-4, according to researchers at the European research institution INSERM.
The disease is primarily transmitted from host to host through the air, in the form of sneezing, coughing or other close bodily contact. The virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after leaving its host.
The pathogens enter through the lungs and then spread throughout the body, but are expelled through the nectin-4 receptor found in the trachea, which allows them to easily spread through the air.
The best way to prevent the spread of the disease is through inoculation. Despite the availability of a safe and affordable vaccine, the measles virus is one of the leading causes of death in children, with more than 95 percent of measles-related deaths occurring in low-income countries, according to the World Health Organization.