This condition is referred to as immune amnesia, which can leave individuals susceptible to various infections for weeks to months. Studies indicate that it may take anywhere from two to three years for protective immunity to fully rebound after a measles infection.
“Measles virus is highly immunosuppressive, which means it disrupts the normal activity of several types of white blood cells responsible for combating other infections,” explains Fennelly.
One major risk associated with measles is bacterial pneumonia, a condition that leads to lung inflammation and fluid accumulation. Approximately one in five individuals with measles in the United States requires hospitalization, and one in 20 may develop pneumonia. In severe cases, patients might need supplemental oxygen or require intubation and ventilator assistance.
During a press briefing on February 28, Ron Cook, chief health officer at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, reported that the hospitalized patients displayed severe symptoms and experienced dehydration and low oxygen levels due to lung inflammation.
“Pneumonia is the primary cause of mortality associated with measles in young children,” states Edith Bracho-Sanchez, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Measles can lead to severe complications in those lacking immunity, particularly in children under 5 years old.Photo: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Measles may also lead to a serious complication known as encephalitis, characterized by brain swelling and potentially fatal outcomes. Encephalitis can occur during an infection if the virus reaches the brain or after infection due to an overactive immune response causing brain inflammation. Approximately one in every 1,000 children with measles will develop encephalitis, which can result in convulsions and, in rare instances, deafness or cognitive impairment.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective means of preventing these complications. One dose of the vaccine offers a 93 percent efficacy rate against measles, while two doses increase that to 97 percent. The first dose is advised for children aged 12 to 15 months, with the second dose usually administered between 4 and 6 years of age.
Currently, there are no antiviral treatments specifically designed for measles, and although vitamin A is frequently provided to infected individuals, it does not cure measles or eradicate the virus. “The infection itself can diminish vitamin A levels in the body,” Bracho-Sanchez notes. Both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend administering two doses of vitamin A to children hospitalized with measles, as a deficiency can heighten the risk of severe complications. However, excessive amounts of vitamin A can be toxic.
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has proposed that the use of cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamin A, is yielding “very, very good results” in measles patients. Nevertheless, health professionals warn that cod liver oil supplements may contain excessive vitamin A and can also make children unwell if taken in large quantities.
According to Bracho-Sanchez, the best way to maintain adequate vitamin A levels is through a diet filled with fruits and vegetables. Vaccination remains the most reliable method of preventing measles, she asserts.
Updated 3-11-2025 7:37 pm GMT: A quote misattributed to Glenn Fennelly has been amended.
