When Measles Doesn’t Kill You, It Can Still Leave You Weaker
The Real Truth About Vaccines
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is a famous maxim, unfortunately, it is not always true.
It is especially not true when you have measles - measles can still kill you - even after you survive having measles!
When Measles Doesn’t Kill You, It Can Still Leave You Weaker
You do know what happens when you have measles, don’t you?
At best, a typical case of measles, without complications, is a good week of a high fever - up to 104°F (40°C) to 105°F (40.6°C), deep cough, red, watery eyes that cause a dislike for bright light, sore throat, and irritability.
Then there is the risk of complications, like pneumonia and encephalitis, both of which are life-threatening.
And if you survive all of that, there is still the later risk of dying with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)!
But wait… there’s more!
In addition to all of that, if you survive measles with no complications, you will still likely have immune amnesia!
“The risk associated with measles infection is much greater than the sum of its observable symptoms. The immune memories that you have acquired are priceless, built over many years and from countless exposures to a menagerie of germs. Measles virus is especially dangerous because it has the ability to destroy what’s been earned: immune memory from previous infections.”
Measles and Immune Amnesia
That means that measles can wipe away your immune system’s memories of having developed immunity against previous infections.
“One of the most unique—and most dangerous—features of measles pathogenesis is its ability to reset the immune systems of infected patients. During the acute phase of infection, measles induces immune suppression through a process called immune amnesia.”
Measles and Immune Amnesia
And this immune amnesia leaves your immune system weaker and at risk to get sick from other infectious diseases, including those that you may have already had.
“Examination of child mortality rates in the U.S., U.K., and Denmark in the decades before and after the introduction of the measles vaccine revealed that nearly half of all childhood deaths from infectious disease could be related to MV infection when the disease was prevalent. That means infections other than measles resulted in death, due to the MV effect on the immune system.”
Measles and Immune Amnesia
Worst of all, the immune amnesia can last for up to 3 years!
What about the natural immunity to measles you gain from a natural infection?
Isn’t that a strength?
Sure.
After surviving a week of high fever and other symptoms, a risk of pneumonia and encephalitis, a later risk of SSPE, and three years of immune amnesia, if you survived, then you have earned your natural immunity.
Of course, you could have gotten that same immunity with two doses of the MMR vaccine with very little risk, either to yourself, or to others.