Measles Virus May Wipe Out Immune Protection For Other Diseases
Another reason not to skip the measles vaccine: A measles infection may cause lasting harm to the immune system, research finds, making patients more vulnerable to other diseases.
This year saw the largest outbreak of measles in the U.S. since 1994, with 1,250 cases reported, largely driven by families choosing not to vaccinate their kids. Worldwide the disease has resurfaced in areas that had previously been declared measles-free.
Some families choosing not to vaccinate argue measles is just a pesky childhood illness to be endured. But two new studies illustrate how skipping the measles vaccine carries a double risk. Not only does it leave a child vulnerable to a highly contagious disease, but for individuals who survive an initial measles attack, the virus increases their vulnerability
