{"681458":{"#nid":"681458","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Measles Can Ravage the Immune System and Brain, Causing Long-Term Damage \u2013 A Virologist\u00a0Explains","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe measles outbreak that began in west Texas in late January 2025 continues to grow, with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dshs.texas.gov\/news-alerts\/measles-outbreak-2025\u0022\u003E400 confirmed cases in Texas\u003C\/a\u003E and more than 50 in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nmhealth.org\/about\/erd\/ideb\/mog\/\u0022\u003ENew Mexico\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/health\/health-education\/acute-disease-service\/rash-illness\/measles.html\u0022\u003EOklahoma\u003C\/a\u003E as of March 28.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPublic health experts believe the numbers are much higher, however, and some worry about a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/26\/health\/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html\u0022\u003Ebigger resurgence of the disease\u003C\/a\u003E in the U.S. In the past two weeks, health officials have identified potential measles exposures \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dchealth.dc.gov\/release\/health-officials-investigating-measles-exposures-dc\u0022\u003Ein association with planes, trains and automobiles\u003C\/a\u003E, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2025\/03\/20\/measles-maryland-travel-airport-metro\/\u0022\u003Eat Washington Dulles International Airport\u003C\/a\u003E and on an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dchealth.dc.gov\/release\/health-officials-investigating-possible-measles-exposures-dc\u0022\u003EAmtrak train from New York City to Washington, D.C.\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 as well as at health care facilities where the infected people sought medical attention.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeasles infections can be extremely serious. So far in 2025, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/data-research\/index.html\u0022\u003E14% of the people who got measles had to be hospitalized\u003C\/a\u003E. Last year, that number was 40%. Measles can damage the lungs and immune system, and also inflict permanent brain damage. Three in 1,000 people who get the disease die. But because measles vaccination programs in the U.S. over the past 60 years \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-024-03412-3\u0022\u003Ehave been highly successful\u003C\/a\u003E, few Americans under 50 have experienced measles directly, making it easy to think of the infection as a mere childhood rash with fever.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a biologist who studies \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=OQ7vzu0AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Ehow viruses infect and kill cells and tissues\u003C\/a\u003E, I believe it is important for people to understand how dangerous a measles infection can be.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUnderappreciated Acute Effects\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeasles is one of the most contagious diseases on the planet. One person who has it will infect \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/about\/index.html\u0022\u003Enine out of 10 people nearby\u003C\/a\u003E if those people are unvaccinated. A two-dose regimen of the vaccine, however, is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nfid.org\/resource\/frequently-asked-questions-about-measles\/\u0022\u003E97% effective at preventing measles\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the measles virus infects a person, it binds to specific proteins on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nature10639\u0022\u003Esurface of cells\u003C\/a\u003E. It then inserts its genome and replicates, destroying the cells in the process. This first happens in the upper respiratory tract and the lungs, where the virus can damage the person\u2019s ability to breathe well. In both places, the virus \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/35022579\u0022\u003Ealso infects immune cells\u003C\/a\u003E that carry it to the lymph nodes, and from there, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/asm.org\/articles\/2019\/may\/measles-and-immune-amnesia\u0022\u003Ethroughout the body\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/66rSGj35N3k?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EMeasles can wipe out immune cells\u2019 ability to recognize pathogens.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat generally lands people with measles in the hospital is the disease\u2019s effects on the lungs. As the virus destroys lung cells, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-94-017-9882-2_23\u0022\u003Epatients can develop viral pneumonia\u003C\/a\u003E, which is characterized by severe coughing and difficulty breathing. Measles pneumonia afflicts \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/signs-symptoms\/index.html\u0022\u003Eabout 1 in 20 children who get measles\u003C\/a\u003E and is the most common cause of death from measles in young children.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe virus can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1172\/JCI118306\u0022\u003Edirectly invade the nervous system\u003C\/a\u003E and also damage it by causing inflammation. Measles can cause \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/qjmed\/hcu113\u0022\u003Eacute brain damage in two different ways\u003C\/a\u003E: a direct infection of the brain that occurs in roughly 1 in 1,000 people, or inflammation of the brain two to 30 days after infection that occurs with the same frequency. Children who survive these events \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/hcp\/clinical-overview\/index.html\u0022\u003Ecan have permanent brain damage\u003C\/a\u003E and impairments such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.survophthal.2003.12.005\u0022\u003Eblindness\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/2331216514541361\u0022\u003Ehearing loss\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EYearslong Consequences of Infection\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn especially alarming but still poorly understood effect of measles infection is that it can reduce the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.coviro.2020.08.002\u0022\u003Eimmune system\u2019s ability to recognize pathogens\u003C\/a\u003E it has previously encountered. Researchers had long suspected that children who get the measles vaccine also tend to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aaa3662\u0022\u003Ehave better immunity to other diseases\u003C\/a\u003E, but they were not sure why. A study published in 2019 found that having a measles infection \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aaa3662\u0022\u003Edestroyed between 11% and 75% of their antibodies\u003C\/a\u003E, leaving them vulnerable to many of the infections to which they previously had immunity. This effect, called immune amnesia, lasts until people are reinfected or revaccinated against each disease their immune system forgot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOccasionally, the virus can lie undetected in the brain of a person who recovered from measles and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560673\/\u0022\u003Ereactivate typically seven to 10 years later\u003C\/a\u003E. This condition, called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/cid\/cix302\u0022\u003Esubacute sclerosing panencephalitis\u003C\/a\u003E, is a progressive dementia that is almost always fatal. It occurs in about 1 in 25,000 people who get measles but is about five times more common in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/adc.2003.038489\u0022\u003Ebabies infected with measles before age 1\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers long thought that such infections were caused by a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00415-008-0032-6\u0022\u003Especial strain of measles\u003C\/a\u003E, but more recent research suggests that the measles virus can acquire mutations that enable it to infect the brain \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adf3731\u0022\u003Eduring the course of the original infection\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is still much to learn about the measles virus. For example, researchers are exploring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.adm8693\u0022\u003Eantibody therapies to treat severe measles\u003C\/a\u003E. However, even if such treatments work, the best way to prevent the serious effects of measles is to avoid infection by getting vaccinated.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/252354\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/measles-can-ravage-the-immune-system-and-brain-causing-long-term-damage-a-virologist-explains-252354\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMeasles can damage the lungs and immune system, and also inflict permanent brain damage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Measles can damage the lungs and immune system, and also inflict permanent brain damage. "}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-03-31 14:36:14","changed_gmt":"2025-04-02 16:38:49","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676719":{"id":"676719","type":"image","title":"Measles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMeasles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/measles-outbreak-royalty-free-image\/2163958662\u0022\u003Ewildpixel\/ iStock via Getty Images Plus\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1743432009","gmt_created":"2025-03-31 14:40:09","changed":"1743432009","gmt_changed":"2025-03-31 14:40:09","alt":"Measles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital. ","file":{"fid":"260542","name":"file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/31\/file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/31\/file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":109272,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/31\/file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg?itok=BwZklNnS"}}},"media_ids":["676719"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/measles-can-ravage-the-immune-system-and-brain-causing-long-term-damage-a-virologist-explains-252354","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/peter-kasson-1297400\u0022\u003EPeter Kasson\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}