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.

Understanding measles and the role of vaccination

With measles cases rising in Canada and internationally, it is important for clinicians to understand the disease and the role of vaccination against measles.

22 Apr 2024

WHO publishes report introducing updated terminology for airborne pathogens

Following consultation with public health agencies and experts, the World Health Organization (WHO) publishes a global technical consultation report introducing updated terminology for pathogens that transmit through the air.

22 Apr 2024

The path to a better tuberculosis vaccine runs through Montana

A team of Montana researchers is playing a key role in the development of a more effective vaccine against tuberculosis, an infectious disease that has killed more people than any other.

18 Apr 2024

CDC report: Persistent measles importations challenge U.S. elimination efforts

The status of measles elimination in the United States (U.S.).

16 Apr 2024

ChatGPT could be an effective tool to help reduce vaccine hesitancy

New research being presented at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) suggests that the free-to-use, widely accessible ChatGPT could be an effective tool to help reduce vaccine hesitancy among the general public, as well as providing helpful advice on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in conjunction with sexual health clinics, by improving knowledge and access to care.

10 Apr 2024

Largest-ever global deployment of cholera rapid diagnostic tests for better disease control

The arrival of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits for cholera in Malawi today signals the start of a global programme that will see more than 1.2 million tests distributed to 14 countries at high risk for cholera over the next several months.

10 Apr 2024

Four years after shelter-in-place, covid-19 misinformation persists

From spring break parties to Mardi Gras, many people remember the last major “normal” thing they did before the novel coronavirus pandemic dawned, forcing governments worldwide to issue stay-at-home advisories and shutdowns.

1 Apr 2024

Navigating school attendance: Parents weigh physical and mental health in decisions

Study explores how parents decide whether their children should attend school or stay home due to sickness, revealing a cautious approach when in doubt, and highlights the significant consideration of mental health alongside physical well-being.

27 Mar 2024

WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, for the prevention of malaria in children.

27 Mar 2024

MMR vaccine slashes antibiotic use in toddlers: Nordic study shines light on broader benefits

Study demonstrates that administering the MMR vaccine to children under two, following three DTaP doses, significantly reduces the need for antibiotic treatments, highlighting potential non-specific protective effects.

26 Mar 2024

Redefining tuberculosis classification to enhance early detection and treatment

A new way to classify tuberculosis (TB) that aims to improve focus on the early stages of the disease has been launched by an international team including researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

26 Mar 2024

Study reveals why COVID-19 antibodies fade quickly

Researchers at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine published a new study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases investigating the antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

18 Mar 2024

Measles outbreak in Illinois underscores critical need for vaccination

Study reports a measles outbreak among five unvaccinated children in Illinois, highlighting the disease's high transmissibility even among those not in direct contact, underscoring the critical importance of vaccination.

17 Mar 2024

UKHSA data shows continued increase in whooping cough cases

New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there has been a continued increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases at the start of this year, with 553 confirmed in England in January, compared with 858 cases for the whole of last year (2023).

7 Mar 2024

Empathetic correction of misinformation can improve attitudes towards vaccination, study shows

An international study has shown for the first time how empathetic correction of misinformation among vaccine-hesitant patients can significantly improve attitudes towards vaccination – and potentially boost vaccine uptake.

4 Mar 2024

Collaborative analysis of disease and death drivers in Gaza conflict

The analysis was conducted to help better address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza both during and after the war.

23 Feb 2024

Florida defies CDC in measles outbreak, telling parents it’s fine to send unvaccinated kids to school

With a brief memo, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has subverted a public health standard that's long kept measles outbreaks under control.

23 Feb 2024

Urgent call for increased measles vaccination in the EU/EEA

Measles cases are expected to continue increasing in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) in the coming months due to sub-optimal vaccination coverage for measles-containing vaccines (MCV) in a number of EU/EEA countries, the high probability of importation from areas experiencing high circulation and the fact that the coming months represent the seasonal peak of the virus.

16 Feb 2024

LSHTM researchers receive £2m funding to develop novel vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have been awarded £2m funding through the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund, to develop novel vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.

9 Feb 2024

Media stories on parental vaccine hesitancy drive a false narrative, distort reality

Media stories focusing on vaccine hesitancy can distort reality and drive a false narrative that a large percentage of parents are refusing to get their children vaccinated, according to an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine by two pediatricians from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

6 Feb 2024