Vaccinated or not, we’re on the brink of a measles epidemic
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Why is measles resurging in the United States and what states are most affected?
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Remember the schoolyard rhyme, Miss Lucy Had a Baby? Some people jumped rope to it. Some people learned a hand clapping game. And there was always this one line. Measles said the doctor. Mom said the nurse. Nothing said the lady with the alligator purse. The funny thing is that when I was a kid, measles and mumps weren't super common. Researchers developed a combined childhood vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella in the 70s. It was so effective that measles was declared eliminated in the States in 2000. So most people in the U.S., including me, haven't ever experienced it. But measles is making a comeback. Right now, there are ongoing outbreaks, hundreds of cases, mostly among unvaccinated people, documented in states like South Carolina, Texas and Utah.
In Pennsylvania, where the outbreak is biggest, the state health department has reported 792 cases with four measles-associated deaths. And that last term, measles-associated deaths, has prompted a lot of conflict between politicians like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
We're trying to figure out, you know, who
those deaths were and they actually happened and we can't figure that out. I blame RFK and people like him who have spread misinformation and disinformation.
But while all these politicians argue, health experts worry that we're overlooking the real problem.
I would say we are very much on the road towards an epidemic.
This is Michael Minna. He's been studying measles for the last 15 years. He's an immunologist and epidemiologist, plus the chief medical officer at biotech companies InVivid and Truvian.
We could certainly start to see a greater explosion of measles cases as we move into the future.
How does measles damage the immune system and what is immune amnesia?
I think it's very likely that the United States will probably lose its elimination status, you know, towards the end of this year.
So today on the show, the measles outbreak. Which deaths are caused by measles versus which ones are associated with it? And is there any way for us to turn this epidemic around? I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shorewave, the science podcast from NPR.
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Okay, Michael, so before we get into this current measles outbreak, can you explain what the measles virus does to our bodies?
Yeah, measles is much more than just a fever and a rash. Measles causes a tremendous amount of damage to your immune system. All sorts of organs that are involved in your immune response are really under attack.
Yeah. In fact, you were one of the researchers who discovered something called immune amnesia caused by measles.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why is measles resurging in the United States and what states are most affected?
0:01–2:26
2
How does measles damage the immune system and what is immune amnesia?
2:26–5:06
3
What does “measles‑associated death” really mean and why is it controversial?
5:06–7:20
4
Is there a cure for measles and how effective is vitamin A treatment?
7:20–9:53
5
How well does the measles vaccine protect people, especially the vaccinated?
9:53–12:14
6
What would a full‑scale measles epidemic look like in the U.S.?
12:14–14:16
7
Can we reverse the outbreak trend and what public‑health strategies might work?
14:16–16:27
8
How can trust be rebuilt with vaccine‑hesitant communities to prevent future crises?
16:27–16:42