How measles infections can wipe away immunity to other diseases

Two newly published studies find that measles infections can erase some of the immune memory that children may have acquired through vaccinations or from being ill with other infections. Wiping away this record could leave kids vulnerable for months or even years afterward. In one study, Harvard scientists found that healthy children once infected with measles lost between 11%-73% of their antibodies, indicating that the impact on malnourished children could be worse. In another study, European researchers found that the supply of B cells — which produce antibodies — dwindled following a measles infection. This in turn could explain why child deaths unrelated to measles increase in many countries for several years following a measles outbreak. Physicians may want to consider re-vaccinating children and even adults against other diseases following a measles infection, the Harvard researchers suggest.