Losing their immunity after a measles infection

T cells are seen here attacking a cancer cell. The measles virus not only uses T – and B – cells as a ride around the body, but also feeds on them, thus destroying the immune system’s memory of how to fight off previous infections. — 123rf

Dr Adam Ratner has heard a lot of myths and misunderstandings about measles in his decades as a New York City paediatric infectious disease specialist in the United States.

A troubling untruth he’s seen circulating on social media during the current measles outbreak in the US is that being infected with the virus instead of getting vaccinated confers benefits on the immune system – a strength-training programme of sorts for the cells.