By Ashad Hajela/Connecticut Health Fellowship
A pediatric disease expert cautioned journalists about the unnecessary threat of measles outbreaks during a lightning talk titled, “Beyond the headlines: Unveiling the truth about measles,” at Health Journalism 2024.
Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, M.D., is a former president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and chief of the division of pediatric allergy, immunology and infectious diseases at Rutgers Wood Johnson Medical School.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to mankind, and it can result in severe complications,” she told a room full of journalists.
The disease is caused by a virus and starts out with a cough, red eyes, a fever and a runny nose. It spreads through the air, and after a few days a rash appears. People can spread measles four days before a rash appears, and four days after the rash has started, so it can be spread even before people know they have it.
Measles isn’t just a childhood disease, Whitley-Williams said.
“Measles can result in severe complications, and sometimes permanent complications, such as pneumonia, seizures, what we call encephalitis, which can lead to brain damage and yes, even death.”
The U.S. declared the disease to be eliminated in the year 2000 because of an effective vaccine. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective at preventing the disease.
“That’s an excellent vaccine, and in fact, the measles vaccination is probably one of the most successful public health interventions that we have.”
However, the disease is now making a comeback. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 151 reported cases of measles so far in 2024, with 83% of the cases occurring in people who have not been vaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown. In those cases, 54% of the patients have been hospitalized.
The outbreak is tied to a movement against the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that began in response to a case series published by Andrew Wakefield and some of his colleagues in the Lancet that linked the vaccine to autism. That link has been repeatedly debunked, and the Lancet retracted the series. Wakefield lost his medical license.
Whitley-Williams said reporters have a big responsibility in managing the spread of the disease. “I want to reiterate how important it is to get the word out so that people have accurate information and are empowered to make good decisions to help protect their own health.”
