A growing measles outbreak in west Texas and surrounding states has raised concerns among public health experts, who believe the numbers may be much higher than reported. As of March 28, there have been over 400 confirmed cases in Texas, with more than 50 reported in New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Measles can be extremely serious, with 14% of those infected requiring hospitalization, compared to 40% last year. The disease can cause permanent brain damage, lung damage, and even death, particularly among young children.
According to biologist Dr. [Name], measles is one of the most contagious diseases on the planet, infecting nine out of 10 unvaccinated individuals nearby. A two-dose vaccine regimen is 97% effective in preventing measles.
When measles infects a person, it can damage lung cells and immune cells, leading to viral pneumonia, which often requires hospitalization. The virus can also directly invade the nervous system, causing acute brain damage in about 1 in 1,000 cases or through inflammation that occurs two to 30 days after infection.
A concerning long-term effect of measles is “immune amnesia,” where the disease destroys between 11% and 75% of antibodies, leaving individuals vulnerable to other infections. In rare cases, the virus can lie undetected in the brain and reactivate seven to 10 years later, causing a fatal condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
To prevent serious measles effects, experts emphasize vaccination as the best way to avoid infection. Researchers are exploring new treatments, but vaccination remains the most effective method to combat this highly contagious disease.
Source: https://theconversation.com/measles-can-ravage-the-immune-system-and-brain-causing-long-term-damage-a-virologist-explains-252354