The present paper reviews the main aspects related to ¡he epidemiology of measles among Brazilian Indian societies. The role of the genetic, nutritional, and socio-cultural factors in the transmission of the disease are discussed, emphasizing the importance of the provision of basic health services in the prevention of the high prevalence and mortality usually observerd among these populations. The author calls attention to the need of organizing multidisciplinary teams both in the planning and delivering of health services, as well as of a larger involvement of the public health schools in the health care of those groups.