Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a debilitating brain disorder, was once thought to affect one in 100,000 people, but new evidence shows it hits people who had measles at a young age particularly hard.
"SSPE is a late complication of measles. People get measles, they get better and then many years later -- on average, 10 years later -- it starts," said Dr. James Cherry, co-author of the study. "It's a small risk, but it's a definite risk. It's important that all kids get vaccinated so it isn't spread to younger children," he added.
Researchers do not know yet as to what causes the dormant bacteria to reactivate and there is currently no cure once it does. Vaccination is the only way to prevent everyone possible from getting measles.
Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory infection. It was eliminated in 2000, but has made a comeback, mostly because of a growing number of people who fail to have their children vaccinated.
"This is really frightening and we need to see that everyone gets vaccinated," Cherry said.
Gary Marshall, pediatrics professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky said that parents who deliberately refuse to have their children vaccinated think that they are trying to do the right thing. "Unfortunately, they're mistaken. The right thing to do to protect their children is to vaccinate them to prevent them from getting measles and getting a horrible complication," he said.
Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City said that "the measles virus is much more dangerous than the vaccine we use to protect against it. Given how highly contagious measles is, and given how common side effects are, this is a mandate to get vaccinated and stop fooling around with fears of things like autism from the vaccine."
In the US, 54 people from 16 states were reported to have measles this year. California Department of Public reported that close to 92 percent of children in the country aged 19 to 35 months old have already received the MMR vaccine.
