Perhaps you haven't seen the story about measles' effect on the immune system. If their interpretation is correct, measles not only knocks down the immune system, but partly erases "prior knowledge" of previously beaten infections, so that you are more readily re-infected with things you should be at least partly immune to.
I wonder what it does to adults. I wonder how much the immune system destroys and how much is simply suppresses (i.e. what sorts of pathogens are hiding out in odd corners inside us).
Wow. That could be devastating.
ReplyDeleteGood thing everyone's getting vaccinated now, so we don't have to worry about this stuff, eh?
I think I know exactly what Dante would have happen to the tort lawyer who (if I understand correctly) started this anti-vaxer trend...
ReplyDeleteYes. The thought of residual viruses getting new freedom after a measles attack is kind of scary. Might play a role in making adult measles so deadly?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the topic is all too topical: ebola shutdown health care in Liberia and we're hearing about a resurgence of measles.