Can contracting measles compromise your immunity to other diseases?
Yes.
Contracting measles can compromise your immunity to other diseases through a phenomenon known as “immune amnesia.”
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by an airborne virus, can erase some of the immune system’s stored memory of past diseases. In other words, the body may “forget” how to fight infections it was previously protected against.
Research cited by the American Society for Microbiology and Harvard Medical School found that measles can reduce antibodies that protect against a wide range of pathogens for months or even years.
UCLA Health notes that the virus specifically targets immune memory cells, weakening defenses against unrelated illnesses, such as the flu or bacterial infections.
This well-documented effect of measles infection is one reason public health experts recommend vaccination to prevent measles and its downstream immune system damage.
As of March 6, North Dakota Health and Human Services reports there have been 23 confirmed cases of measles in the state this year.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
This Fact Brief was originally written by J. Craig Anderson and published by our Gigafact partner Maine Trust for Local News.
Sources
- American Society for Microbiology: Measles and Immune Amnesia
- Harvard Medical School: Inside Immune Amnesia
- UCLA Health: Measles Infection Can Cause Immune Amnesia
- North Dakota Health and Human Services: First case of measles reported in Traill County; one new case in Pembina County
