Measles is Back. How Worried Should We Be?

Summary

Chasing Life Podcast Episode Summary: "Measles is Back. How Worried Should We Be?"

Host: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Release Date: February 28, 2025
Podcast: Chasing Life by CNN

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1. Introduction to the Measles Outbreak

Dr. Sanjay Gupta opens the episode by detailing the alarming resurgence of measles in West Texas, describing the region's picturesque landscapes juxtaposed with the harsh reality of the largest measles outbreak the state has seen in three decades. As of the episode's release, the outbreak has resulted in over 120 reported cases, including the first death attributed to the virus within this outbreak.

"West Texas. Wide open highways, sprawling landscapes, really beautiful country, but unfortunately now also home to the largest measles outbreak in the state in 30 years."
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [00:33]

2. Understanding Measles

Dr. Gupta provides a comprehensive overview of measles, emphasizing its highly contagious nature. He explains that measles spreads through infected droplets when an individual coughs, sneezes, or breathes heavily, allowing the virus to linger on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours. The episode highlights that measles can infect approximately 9 out of 10 unvaccinated close contacts, making high vaccination rates crucial for preventing outbreaks.

The discussion underscores the importance of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, which has been instrumental in reducing measles cases since its introduction in the 1960s. However, despite a high vaccination goal of 95% for kindergarteners set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the virus's contagiousness means even slight declines in vaccination rates can lead to rapid spread.

"Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet."
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [00:56]

3. Medical Impact and Response

Dr. Gupta interviews Dr. Lara Johnson, Chief Medical Officer at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. Dr. Johnson discusses the severe complications measles can cause, particularly in children. Over the past weeks, her hospital has admitted more than 15 pediatric measles patients, many of whom suffer from respiratory issues requiring supplemental oxygen and respiratory support due to viral pneumonia.

The conversation also touches on the long-term neurological complications that can arise from measles infections, some of which may develop years after the initial infection, posing significant health risks.

"Measles still can have serious consequences."
— Dr. Lara Johnson [05:10]

4. Public Health Efforts

Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the State Health Department Commissioner, shares insights into the public health strategies being employed to combat the outbreak. The primary focus is on increasing vaccination rates through widespread public education and the establishment of free pop-up vaccination clinics operating seven days a week to make vaccines more accessible.

Dr. Shuford emphasizes the proven efficacy and safety of the MMR vaccine, urging the community to overcome vaccine hesitancy by consulting healthcare providers to understand the vaccine's benefits.

"It is on us now to try to help get the message out about the safety and strength of this vaccine..."
— Dr. Jennifer Shuford [09:03]

5. Community Impact

The episode delves into the broader impact of the measles outbreak on the community. Dr. Ron Cook from the Lubbock Health Authority explains the challenges faced in areas with pockets of under-vaccinated populations, particularly in rural communities where individuals may frequent large shopping centers like Costco and Walmart, inadvertently aiding the virus's spread.

Personal stories from residents Amy and Eric Gandy illustrate the fears and frustrations of the outbreak. Their 11-year-old son, Owen, is immunocompromised, heightening their concern as he is more vulnerable to severe measles complications despite being vaccinated. The Gangys highlight the ethical responsibility of vaccinated individuals to maintain herd immunity to protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

"It's the most infectious virus that we know about."
— Dr. Ron Cook [13:47]

"It's time that everybody, like, takes a look just at your political reasons or your religious reasons and kind of think about that group of people and really take a deep look..."
— Eric Gandy [17:21]

6. Conclusion and Prevention

Dr. Gupta concludes the episode by reiterating the critical importance of vaccination in preventing measles outbreaks. He emphasizes that even if individuals missed the initial vaccination window, getting vaccinated later can still make a significant difference in curbing the virus's spread. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the collective responsibility to uphold public health through vaccination, ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire community.

"I have three kids. And I'm just trying to imagine how I would feel like a... Does it make you angry? Does it make you discouraged to not have that herd immunity?"
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [16:21]

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Key Takeaways:

• Measles Resurgence: West Texas faces its most significant measles outbreak in 30 years, with over 120 cases and one fatality.
• Highly Contagious Virus: Measles can spread rapidly in under-vaccinated communities, highlighting the necessity of high vaccination rates.
• Medical Challenges: Hospitals are overwhelmed with pediatric cases suffering from severe respiratory and potential long-term neurological complications.
• Public Health Response: Efforts focus on increasing vaccination through education and accessible clinics, combating vaccine hesitancy.
• Community Responsibility: Personal stories underscore the importance of herd immunity to protect vulnerable populations.
• Vaccination Importance: Timely vaccination remains the most effective measure to prevent and control measles outbreaks.

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For listeners seeking to protect themselves and their communities, this episode underscores the vital role of vaccination in safeguarding public health against highly contagious diseases like measles.

Transcript

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[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

West Texas. Wide open highways, sprawling landscapes, really beautiful country, but unfortunately now also home to the largest measles outbreak in the state in 30 years.

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

We have the first reported death from measles in the outbreak that has infected more than 100 people. 120.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

You probably know measles from its signature spotted red rash, but otherwise, you know, we really haven't had much reason to talk about it since it was essentially eliminated here in the United states back in 2000. For a long time, we simply didn't have any new cases. Nobody was getting sick of measles. And that, of course, was thanks to the development of the measles vaccine in the 1960s. But the thing about measles is that it is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet. And that means the vaccination rate doesn't have to drop by too much for it to start to spread. The U.S. department of Health and Human Services, they set a 95% vaccination rate goal for kindergarteners. What does that mean? Two doses of the measles mumps and rubella vaccine, MMR vaccine, to help prevent outbreaks. Now that is a high number. But when a virus is very contagious, you need a higher vaccination rate to keep it at bay. And when it's lower, the virus has the opportunity to quickly take hold. And that is exactly what we are seeing now in West Texas. That's where the outbreak started in this tight knit rural under vaccinated mennonite community. But again, because it is so contagious, more and more measles cases are starting to be reported in other parts of the state. So with all that in mind, I recently traveled down to Texas to learn more about the outbreak, how it exactly started, how it could be contained, and overall how the community is feeling about the situation. I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta and this is Chasing life. Okay, let's start with the basics. Measles is a virus, and it spreads when someone who is infected breathes, coughs, or sneezes, and then another person inhales those infected droplets. Now, I've said this a couple times. It is highly contagious. But what does that mean exactly? Well, think of it like this. It is so contagious that it's estimated that someone with measles can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated close contacts. And it can also linger in the air, and it can linger on surfaces up to two hours after an infected person has left the room. Now, symptoms will typically begin 10 to 14 days after exposure. Think about that. It can be hard to remember what you were doing, where you were 10 to 14 days ago. The symptoms will typically include a high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, or red eyes, and then again, most notably, a red blotchy rash all over the body. Now, what I think is important to note, especially if you have children, measles can cause serious respiratory and neurological complications. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States with measles will be hospitalized 20%. This is the reality doctors in West Texas are now facing.

[Dr. Lara Johnson]

We've had over 15 patients admitted here in our children's hospital with measles over the past several weeks.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

That's Dr. Lara Johnson. She's the chief medical officer at Covenant Children's in Lubbock, Texas. It's about an hour and a half northeast of Gaines County. Now, it is worth pointing out, so many of the people who get infected with measles, who get sick, who need to be hospitalized, they are children. So how do you even begin to approach as a patient comes in, what do you do for them?

[Dr. Lara Johnson]

Well, I would say the acute management is not that different than other viral illnesses that we deal with. So one of the most important things is making sure that we're identifying those patients as quickly as possible so we can limit exposure to other patients and staff, and then, of course, assessing what their needs are. Most of the patients who've been admitted have had respiratory issues. They've been needing supplemental oxygen and respiratory support to help them get over the viral pneumonia part that we see with.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Measles is the pneumonia. The worst part is that what's really.

[Dr. Lara Johnson]

Bringing them into the hospital, that's certainly what we've seen. We know, you know, the thing that we worry the most about is having neurologic issues as well.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

I mean, you hear about, you know, people getting really sick, maybe even dying. But is. Is the medical care different today than it was decades ago.

[Dr. Lara Johnson]

Yeah, that's a, that's a good question. I think overall we're better at taking care of acute respiratory illnesses in children now than we have been in the past. We're probably also better at taking care of some of those acute neurologic things just because our ability to provide supportive care may have improved. But I think even with those things, you know, measles can still be deadly. We know that from previous experiences. Measles still can have serious consequences. And even one of the things that I think is sort of most concerning about measles is there is a condition that can develop years and years later after having measles that is neurologically devastating and fatal and happens, you know, seven plus years after the fact. And I don't think we've made any progress in some of those things. So, you know, I think our ability to provide acute supportive care continues to improve, which is great. But that, that doesn't solve all those problems necessarily. And you know, one of the other impacts just thinking about the community with measles is it also has kind of a fairly long incubation period and then a long period of time in which symptoms may develop if you're exposed. That's a 21 day period of potential quarantine. So, you know, that can have such a significant impact on students missing school for that period of time, parents missing work from that period of time, employers having employees that can't come to work for that period of time. Just the sort of ripple effect of an outbreak like this can be really significant in lots of other ways.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

And that's exactly why Dr. Jennifer Shuford is trying to stop it.

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

We haven't had a big outbreak out here in decades.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

She's the commissioner for the state health department. So what do you, from, from a state health standpoint, what can you do about it?

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

Yeah, I think the number one thing that we're trying to push is vaccines. We've had this same MMR vaccine, mumps, measles, rubella vaccine, since the 1960s. It's got a proven track record. It's really, it builds strong immunity. The benefits really outweigh the risks. And we've got such a track record with this vaccine and we know it can protect people during these measles outbreaks, that we are really trying to get everybody vaccinated.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

What do you think the next weeks and months is going to look like?

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

I think that we're going to continue to see cases and what the next few months look like kind of depends on how effective we are at getting messaging out about, you know, making sure that people get vaccinated, that they stay at home if they're sick, and, and really trying to push that message through. Really trusted community leaders.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

You and I have been doctors for some time. I think me a bit longer than you. But. But have you ever seen measles before?

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

No. And I'm an infectious disease physician. I've never diagnosed a case.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

That's incredible.

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

It's because, you know, measles was declared eliminated from the United States back in the year 2000 because of the effectiveness of that vaccine. And it's only now, with falling immunization rates, not just here in Texas, but across the country and around the world, that we're starting to see more of these outbreaks.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

What is your sentiment? I mean, you're an infectious disease doctor, epidemiologist, obviously helping run the state's health response. Frustrated, depressed, angry. What is your sentiment?

[Dr. Jennifer Shuford]

Restless and impatient. I want to make sure that we get this message out. It is on us now to try to help get the message out about the safety and strength of this vaccine and really trying to let people know the benefits of it so that we can contain it. I know that people have concerns about vaccines. That is okay. But it's time now to talk to your healthcare provider about those vaccines and why they might be right for you and your family, because we really do need to contain this.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

But that has proven to be difficult as the virus and the worry continues to spread. More when we come back.

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[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Get vaccinated. That is the message I heard over and over again when I visited. West Texas public health departments are trying to make it as easy as possible, even setting up these free pop up clinics that are now open seven days a week. You just set this up when outbreak is happening.

[Dr. Ron Cook]

You say set it up this week.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Dr. Ron Cook is with the Lubbock Health Authority.

[Dr. Ron Cook]

We've got plenty of vaccine so we just need people to come get it.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

And are people coming in?

[Dr. Ron Cook]

They did 13 yesterday 23. 23 yesterday 23. Okay, gotcha.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

So who is it? These 23 folks, how would you describe them? Who are they?

[Dr. Ron Cook]

Some of them haven't been vaccinated. Little older kids for whatever reason. We can look and see that they've had no vaccines whatsoever, but which means they're six or seven, eight years old and they haven't needed vaccines. So let's get you started. Let's at least get this one done and encourage them to continue to be fully vaccinated for all the other things that they should be. We are offering all the free vaccine. Come get your vaccine. If you're not vaccinated, please come get it so we can stop it because we know how fast this spreads. We thought Covid spread fast and we thought norovirus spreads fast, but measles spreads exceedingly fast.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

It's that contagious.

[Dr. Ron Cook]

I mean it is the most infectious virus that we know about.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

How would you just sort of, for people who are sort of dipping into what's happening in West Texas, from around the country, around the world, like how would you describe what's going on here?

[Dr. Ron Cook]

We have pockets that are not well vaccinated, but these individuals like in Gaines county, down there that come to shop here, we have Costco and Sam's and Walmart and they come here to do big shopping on the weekends and they bring their kids and they walk through Costco where they walk through these big shopping centers and then they're exposing these people. And we know how infectious measles is, so it really does. We've had a number of cases hospital and so they hear about it. It's on the news now. So there we have the worried well plus the ones that potentially can get pretty sick.

[Amy Gandy]

Owen was a micropreme, so he spent the first hundred and two or three days in the hospital and since then, you know, with his weakened immune system and everything he went through, we just don't know how he would handle the measles.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Amy and Eric Gandy have lived in Lubbock for 20 years. Amy moved here to play volleyball for Texas Tech and Eric is a cotton farmer now. Both their kids, 11 year old Owen and 9 year old Riley, are vaccinated. But Owen is immunocompromised and as a result he could be more vulnerable to a measles infection. I'm starting to get an idea of the sentiment down here.

[Dr. Ron Cook]

Are people worried?

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

I mean, is this something that's talked about?

[Amy Gandy]

I think you just, you start reading more and more and you realize it's on national news and you want to learn more about the disease because you don't, you haven't really heard of what it actually does and it's a lot more alarming than I thought it would be and, and how contagious it is and will the vaccine be effective for all of us? Because It's I think 97% effective. Are we going to be that 3% or are we going to be safe? So it is a little alarming.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

I have Three kids. And I'm just trying to imagine how I would feel like a. Does it make you angry? Does it make you discouraged to not have that herd immunity?

[Eric Gandy]

Well, I think that the whole conversation about immunization is less and less about the vaccines and their effectiveness or their side effects, and it's more about politics and religion. That's a different conversation for a different day with somebody else. But. But, you know, there's a whole other side of that story, and it's about, you know, what we learned from Owen being premature, that there's a whole group of people, whether it be because of health or age or allergies or something else, they can't get those vaccines. So they don't even have a choice whether or not to be vaccinated. So then it's up to us who can or do get vaccinated to create that herd immunity that can protect them and everybody else that's at risk. So I just, I mean, it's really, I think it's time that everybody, like, takes a look just at your political reasons or your religious reasons and kind of think about that group of people and really take a deep look into what it is that you really believe and why you really believe that and see if not, there's just even a little bitty chance, just for a little bit, that you could put somebody else's interest ahead of yours, especially since there's a group of people that can't make that choice whether the vaccines can work for them or not.

[Amy Gandy]

I guess I just think it's what you do and to do your part for society. And I just don't think it's an option not to.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Now, if you're a new parent, that means Getting your child two doses of the MMR vaccine. The first typically between 12 and 15 months, and the second around age 4 before starting school. This usually protects people against measles for life. Now, if you have an older child or you yourself are not vaccinated, officials say it is not too late. And as we saw in Texas, every shot can really make a difference. Thanks for listening. Chasing Life is a production of CNN Audio. Our podcast is produced by Aaron Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Gallaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez and Kira Dehring. Andrea Kane is our medical writer. Our senior producer is Dan Bloom. Amanda Seeley is our showrunner. Dan Dezulla is our technical director. And the executive producer of CNN Audio is Steve Lichti, with support from Jamis Andrest, John Dianora, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri. Robert Mathers, Lainey Steinhardt, Nicole Pesaru and Lisa Namorow. Special thanks to Ben Tinker and Nadia Kanang of CNN Health and Katie Hinman.

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