Measles News and Research

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Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. It remains a leading cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. An estimated 197 000 people died from measles in 2007, mostly children under the age of five.

Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. The measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and the lungs. It is a human disease not known to occur in animals.

CHLA infectious diseases specialist discusses how parents can prevent measles outbreak

Since December, there have been more than 130 confirmed cases of measles in the state of California, most of them connected to an outbreak that originated in a Southern California amusement park. Many of the infected persons were not vaccinated against the extremely contagious virus, which manifests itself through rash, fever and coughing.

6 Apr 2015

Moon does not influence timing of human births, hospital admissions, says UCLA scientist

"It must be a full moon" is a common refrain when things appear more hectic than usual. The moon is even blamed when things get crazy at hospital emergency rooms or birth wards. "Some nurses ascribe the apparent chaos to the moon, but dozens of studies show that the belief is unfounded," said Jean-Luc Margot, a UCLA professor of planetary astronomy.

31 Mar 2015

WHO calls for intensification of routine immunization services in all Ebola-affected areas

A growing risk of outbreaks of measles, pertussis, and other vaccine-preventable diseases in countries affected by Ebola must be countered by urgent scaling up of routine immunization activities, according to the World Health Organization.

21 Mar 2015

New UNICEF report highlights urgency of reducing Ebola cases

Ebola has had a devastating impact on children, who make up about 20 per cent of infections in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. To protect them and their communities, it is critical to defeat this scourge, while working to restore basic services, UNICEF said in a report released today.

17 Mar 2015

Cyclone Pam: WHO coordinates response efforts to bring health support to cyclone-hit Vanuatu

The World Health Organization in the Western Pacific Region is coordinating response efforts with Vanuatu's Ministry of Health and other humanitarian partners to bring much-needed health support to the Pacific island country, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam.

17 Mar 2015

Inadequate vaccine coverage drives Disneyland measles outbreak

Inadequate vaccine coverage is likely a driving force behind the ongoing Disneyland measles outbreak, according to calculations by a research team at Boston Children's Hospital.

16 Mar 2015

60,000 children in need of immediate assistance after Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu; at least 72,000 out of school

With Tropical Cyclone Pam ripping through Vanuatu from late Friday night (13th March) into the early hours of Saturday morning, UNICEF Pacific reminds that 45% of the population is children and they are particularly vulnerable in any emergency.

16 Mar 2015

Study: Countries most affected by Ebola outbreak may soon have 100,000 more measles cases

An international study involving the University of Southampton suggests there could be a rise in measles cases of 100,000 across the three countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa due to health system disruptions.

16 Mar 2015

Ebola crisis increases susceptibility to measles, other vaccine-preventable illnesses

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers say that major disruptions in the health care systems in West Africa caused by the Ebola crisis have led to significant decreases in vaccinations for childhood diseases, increasing susceptibility to measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.

13 Mar 2015

Modified measles vaccine effective against Chikungunya virus, study finds

A modified, conventional measles vaccine has the potential to act against the Chikungunya virus. This is the result of a study at the University Clinic for Clinical Pharmacology of the MedUni Wien (Medical University of Vienna), which has now been published in the top journal "The Lancet Infectious Diseases".

2 Mar 2015

Researchers examine individuals' confidence or reluctance in vaccination decision-making

Researchers explore individuals' confidence or reluctance to vaccinate their families and the associated effects on global health, in a collection published on February 25, 2015 by the open-access journal, PLOS Currents: Outbreaks. The collection is accompanied by the editorial "Hesitancy, trust and individualism in vaccination decision-making" by Jonathan E. Suk et al. from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

26 Feb 2015

Virus that causes chicken pox and shingles linked to giant cell arteritis

A new study developed at the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus links the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles to a condition that inflames blood vessels on the temples and scalp in the elderly, called giant cell arteritis.

20 Feb 2015

New study links chicken pox and shingles virus to giant cell arteritis in elderly

A new study links the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles to a condition that inflames blood vessels on the temples and scalp in the elderly, called giant cell arteritis. The study is published in the February 18, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The condition can cause sudden blindness or stroke and can be life-threatening.

19 Feb 2015

UCSD researchers make new attempt to develop malaria vaccine candidate

Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine used algae as a mini-factory to produce a malaria parasite protein. The algae-produced protein, paired with an immune-boosting cocktail suitable for use in humans, generated antibodies in mice that nearly eliminated mosquito infection by the malaria parasite.

19 Feb 2015

PIDS statement on ongoing measles outbreak

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, an organization of physicians, scientists, and other medical professionals dedicated to treating and preventing infectious diseases, issued a statement on Feb. 5 about the ongoing measles outbreak, urging vaccination to halt the spread of the disease and to prevent future outbreaks.

9 Feb 2015

Confidence in government may play key role in public's willingness to take swine flu vaccine

A new study suggests that confidence in government may play a key role in the public's willingness to get at least some vaccine

9 Feb 2015

Infectious diseases expert discusses the myths and facts about measles outbreak

Measles, a highly contagious respiratory infection that causes serious complications in about 3 of 10 people, has been grabbing headlines since last December's outbreak at Disneyland. In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 102 cases of measles in 14 states. One unconfirmed case was just reported in New Jersey. Measured against the approximately 600 cases reported in 2014, this year is on track to set a record for a disease that was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000.

8 Feb 2015

American Osteopathic Association reiterates support for CDC vaccination protocols

Amid continuing outbreaks of preventable illnesses, the American Osteopathic Association reiterated its support for CDC vaccination protocols and cited the importance of a fully vaccinated population on the public health of the nation.

7 Feb 2015

ACEP: Emergency rooms are fully prepared to handle measles outbreak

The nation is dealing with the worst measles outbreak in more than a decade. Once again — and reminiscent of the recent Ebola crisis — the nation's emergency physicians are working to track and treat another infectious disease in the midst of a severe flu season.

6 Feb 2015

WSU researchers reveal how online comments impact the way people feel about vaccines

With measles and other diseases once thought eradicated making a comeback in the United States, healthcare websites are on the spot to educate consumers about important health risks. Washington State University researchers say that people may be influenced more by online comments than by credible public service announcements (PSAs).

6 Feb 2015

Measles News and Research

Further Reading

CHLA infectious diseases specialist discusses how parents can prevent measles outbreak

Moon does not influence timing of human births, hospital admissions, says UCLA scientist

WHO calls for intensification of routine immunization services in all Ebola-affected areas

New UNICEF report highlights urgency of reducing Ebola cases

Cyclone Pam: WHO coordinates response efforts to bring health support to cyclone-hit Vanuatu

Inadequate vaccine coverage drives Disneyland measles outbreak

60,000 children in need of immediate assistance after Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu; at least 72,000 out of school

Study: Countries most affected by Ebola outbreak may soon have 100,000 more measles cases

Ebola crisis increases susceptibility to measles, other vaccine-preventable illnesses

Modified measles vaccine effective against Chikungunya virus, study finds

Researchers examine individuals' confidence or reluctance in vaccination decision-making

Virus that causes chicken pox and shingles linked to giant cell arteritis

New study links chicken pox and shingles virus to giant cell arteritis in elderly

UCSD researchers make new attempt to develop malaria vaccine candidate

PIDS statement on ongoing measles outbreak

Confidence in government may play key role in public's willingness to take swine flu vaccine

Infectious diseases expert discusses the myths and facts about measles outbreak

American Osteopathic Association reiterates support for CDC vaccination protocols

ACEP: Emergency rooms are fully prepared to handle measles outbreak

WSU researchers reveal how online comments impact the way people feel about vaccines

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