virus particles, animation. This virus, from the Morbillivirus group of viruses, consists of an RNA (ribonucleic acid) core surrounded by an envelope studded with the surface proteins haemagglutinin and fusion protein, which are used to attach to and penetrate a host cell. Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes an itchy rash with a fever. It mainly affects children, but one attack usually gives life-long immunity