Once thought to be all but eliminated in the United States, measles is once again spreading in certain areas of the country. And while some falsely dismiss measles as a minor childhood illness, doctors and scientists warn that measles can be deadly and may cause challenging symptoms and potential complications, especially for very young children, pregnant women and those with cancer or other conditions that compromise the immune system.
“The increase in frequency of outbreaks, especially in areas where measles was previously eliminated, a reduction in herd immunity due to vaccine hesitancy in the community and the possibility that cancer patients may lack immunity or be unable to take live vaccines due to their compromised immune systems puts cancer patients at a higher risk for measles,” says Suji Mathew, MD, Infectious Disease Physician and Chief of Medicine at City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta.
New outbreaks have reported in several states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to the recent measles outbreak:
- Several patients in Texas have required intubation to help them breathe
- Seventeen percent of those infected have required hospitalization
- And a 6-year-old girl in Texas and an adult in New Mexico—both unvaccinated—have died from the illness
And this is from a disease that can easily be prevented by two doses of a safe vaccine that is 97 percent effective.
“The disease itself is very contagious with high transmissibility rate,” Dr. Mathew says. “Infected patients can transmit the virus several days before and after the development of rash. This can lead to a high potential for community spread, particularly in areas where vaccination rates are low.”
In this article we’ll explore:
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and would like to get a second opinion of your diagnosis or treatment options, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
A rash of new measles cases
Measles was once a common disease in the United States. Prior to the development of the measles vaccine in the early 1960s, more than 500,000 cases of measles and about 500 deaths were reported every year. Many more cases go unreported. By 2000, thanks to widespread vaccination, the disease was declared eliminated in the United States, meaning that, while occasional cases were reported, no concentrated populations were infected.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the vaccine reduced the number of measles deaths worldwide by 80 percent. Since 1974, according to a WHO study, more than 154 million deaths, have been averted because of the measles vaccines.
Fueled by unfounded claims about the dangers of vaccines, the number of children vaccinated for measles and other diseases has declined in the United States and still lags in lesser developed countries. According to the CDC, vaccination rates among kindergarten-aged children decreased from 95.2 percent in 2019–2020 to 92.7 percent in the 2023–2024 school year. More than 100,000 people die from measles worldwide every year.
Research shows that a 97 percent vaccination rate effectively halts the spread of the disease in a community. But new cases are cropping up in regions with low vaccination rates.
Already this year, more than 300 cases of measles have been reported in several states. The largest outbreaks have been in rural west Texas and cases are spilling into the boarding states of New Mexico and Oklahoma. Measles also has been reported in eight other states from California to Rhode Island.
The states with the lowest measles vaccination rates are:
| Rank | State | Vaccination rate | Exemption rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 79.6% | 14.3% |
| 2 | Alaska | 84.3% | 9.5% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 84.8% | 8% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 87% | 5.4% |
| 5 | Florida | 88.1% | 4.8% |
| 6 | Oklahoma (Tie) | 88.3% | 5.7% |
| 6 | Colorado (Tie) | 88.3% | 4.2% |
| 8 | Georgia | 88.4% | 3.6% |
| 9 | Utah | 88.8% | 9.3% |
| 10 | Iowa | 89.1% | 3.4% |
Source: CDC, U.S. News & World Report
*The exemption rate is the percentage of kindergarten-age children who were permitted to skip the vaccine for religious or cultural reasons.
“This is a big deal,” Amy Thompson, MD, a pediatrician and CEO of Covenant Health in Lubbock, Texas tells the Associated Press. “We have known that we have measles in our community, and we are now seeing a very serious consequence.”
Facts about measles
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus. Most people, especially those with preexisting health issues or a compromised immune system, who are exposed to the virus will get sick.
According to the CDC:
- 20 percent of unvaccinated measles victims are hospitalized
- 5 percent of children with measles develop pneumonia, the leading cause of death from measles
- Unvaccinated pregnant women have an increased risk for delivering prematurely or having a baby with a low birth weight
“Measles can cause several complications in the immunocompromised including, pneumonia, corneal ulcer, which can lead to blindness and neurologic complications, like encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a potentially fatal brain disorder that may be caused by the measles infection.” Dr. Mathew says.
Measles and cancer
Cancer patients may face greater risks from measles and other viruses while undergoing treatment, especially those who’ve had a stem cell transplant or are taking chemotherapy drugs that often cause immunosuppression.
Patients already are urged to be vigilant if they, their family members or caregivers develop signs of an infection or severe or unusual symptoms. Signs and symptoms specific to measles include:
- High fever
- Cough and/or runny nose
- Conjunctivitis (puffy, red and watery eyes)
- White spots inside the mouth
- Rash (usually starting on the face and head and moving down the body)
Cancer patients should also be aware of the potential exposure to measles if they, their family members or caregivers travel. And they should make sure their family members and caregivers have received the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps and rubella).
If a cancer patient or survivor thinks they have been exposed to measles, they should contact their doctor or care team immediately and let them know of the potential exposure so they can take measures to help prevent further spread, Dr. Mathew says. There currently is no treatment for measles, but some supportive care therapies may ease symptoms.
Cancer patients themselves cannot receive the vaccine because it contains a live virus, which may cause the disease rather than prevent it in patients with a compromised immune system. Patients should talk to their doctor about receiving immunoglobulins if they are exposed to measles, which may prevent them from getting the disease.
The best way to prevent getting measles, however, is to avoid people who may have it whenever possible.
Tips for preventing infection
The CDC recommends a two-shot vaccination regimen to prevent measles. And the vaccine is not just for school kids. Teens and adults can still get immunized against measles.
To help cancer patients prevent infection from measles and other viruses and illnesses during and after treatment:
- Watch out for signs of infection, such as a cough, fever, fatigue or diarrhea, in yourself and those close by
- Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap
- Keep a clean house. Wipe down surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms
- Avoid traveling to areas known to have an outbreak of disease or illness
- Avoid people you suspect may be sick
- Do not share food, drinks or utensils with others
- Avoid raw or undercooked foods
- Talk to your doctor about which immunizations you can receive during treatment
“Family members and caregivers getting vaccinated may help the cancer patient who may not be able to get the vaccine or be able to mount an adequate immune response due to their cancer or their ongoing treatment,” Dr. Mathew says. “In addition, getting vaccinated would reduce the likelihood of the caregiver getting measles and being a source of exposure for the patient.”
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and would like to get a second opinion of your diagnosis or treatment options, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
