A measles outbreak in West Texas has led to 29 hospitalizations, mostly affecting young children. Tragically, two people, including a 6-year-old, have died. With at least 223 confirmed cases and potentially many more unreported infections, health officials are working to contain the highly contagious virus. However, experts warn that measles can cause serious long-term health problems.
The Hidden Dangers of Measles
Unlike common childhood viruses, measles can have severe consequences. In some cases, it leads to pneumonia or brain swelling (encephalitis). According to the CDC, about 1 in 1,000 measles patients develop encephalitis, and 1 or 2 per 1,000 die from the infection, according to NBC News.
A major complication of measles is immune amnesia, where the virus wipes out parts of the immune system’s memory. Normally, our immune system remembers past infections and quickly fights them off if they return. However, measles destroys important immune cells, making people more vulnerable to illnesses to which they have already developed immunity.
Measles is unlike other viruses: What to know about complications including 'immune amnesia'
— Michael Dao (@stinkomiko) March 13, 2025
It’s not yet known how many people have gotten sick in the Texas measles outbreak, but there are at least 215 confirmed cases since late January. pic.twitter.com/w1qEpKp3uJ
How Measles Weakens Immunity
Dr. Michael Mina, a vaccine expert, explains that measles infection can destroy between 11% and 73% of a person’s stored antibodies. This means someone previously protected against diseases like chickenpox may lose much of their immunity, increasing their risk of reinfection.
“Nobody escapes this,” Mina said. “Measles always weakens the immune system to some degree. The question is how much.”
Before vaccinations, measles may have contributed to up to half of all childhood deaths from infections, as it left children more vulnerable to pneumonia, sepsis, and other deadly diseases. The immune system can remain weakened for two to three years after a measles infection.
The Best Protection: Vaccination
The most effective defense against measles and its complications is vaccination. Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing infection.
How Measles Affects the Brain
A rare but fatal complication of measles is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a brain disease that can appear years after a person recovers from measles. SSPE leads to progressive brain damage, causing memory loss, seizures, and, ultimately, death. Though once considered rare, recent studies suggest SSPE may be more common than previously thought, especially in unvaccinated children, as per NBC News.
SSPE symptoms develop in stages, starting with personality and behavior changes before progressing to seizures and loss of body function. Patients typically survive one to three years after diagnosis, and there is currently no cure.
Rebuilding the Immune System
After a measles infection, the body slowly regains immunity by encountering new viruses and bacteria. However, during this recovery period, people remain vulnerable to various infections.
Dr. John Wherry, an immunologist, compares this process to how young children frequently get sick as they build their immune memory. “It’s not that babies are weaker, but they haven’t yet built their immunological defenses,” he explains. After measles, the immune system must go through a similar process to rebuild its strength, according to reports by NBC News.
Conclusion
Measles is more than just a childhood illness—it can have lasting consequences for the immune system and, in rare cases, lead to fatal brain diseases. The best way to protect yourself and others is through vaccination, which significantly reduces the risk of infection and complications.