A child in Los Angeles died from a brain disorder caused by measles. The school-aged child experienced a brain condition called Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is a rare complication from measles. One out of every 600 babies with measles will develop SSPE. SSPE is always fatal. At the time of infection, the child was too young to receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
SSPE is a disease that progresses slowly, damaging the brain for years after the initial infection. Over time, symptoms of increasing severity occur in four stages. The early stages may include personality changes or depression, headaches or fever, as well as involuntary body movements. The person may also experience vision loss, seizures or dementia. Eventually, vital brain functions that control breathing, heart rate and blood pressure are disrupted, leading to coma and death.
“This case is a painful reminder of how dangerous measles can be, especially for our most vulnerable community members,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer. “Infants too young to be vaccinated rely on all of us to help protect them through community immunity.”
Community immunity, also known as herd immunity, requires at least 95% of an area’s population to be fully vaccinated against the virus. The US is the midst of a historically bad year for measles, a resurgence which is fueled by falling vaccination rates.
The MMR vaccine is highly effective at protecting against measles, preventing infection in 97% of cases. The CDC recommends that kids get their first shot between 12-15 months old, and the second dose between 4-6 years of age.
