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cover of episode Measles: How Worried Should We Be?

Measles: How Worried Should We Be?

2025/4/24
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Science Vs

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C
Catherine Gibney
G
Grace Wade
M
Maru Sheel
P
Peter Kasson
W
Wendy Zuckerman
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Grace Wade: 我是一名健康记者,长期以来,麻疹在美国的传播已被阻止,甚至被宣布消除。然而,现在麻疹疫情卷土重来,这表明疫苗接种的重要性以及我们对疾病的警惕性。 Wendy Zuckerman: 根据疾病控制与预防中心的数据,美国至少有800人感染麻疹,其中绝大多数是未接种疫苗者。疫情已蔓延至20多个州,部分病例源于德克萨斯州,部分病例源于加拿大安大略省。已有85人住院,两人死亡,这凸显了麻疹的严重性。 Peter Kasson: 我是研究病毒的教授。麻疹并非良性疾病,它会对免疫系统造成损害,导致“免疫失忆”,使人更容易感染其他疾病。一项研究表明,感染麻疹的儿童平均损失了20%的抗体库,严重者甚至超过70%。这并非只发生在严重病例中,而是普遍现象。虽然免疫系统会逐渐恢复,但这需要几个月甚至几年的时间。 Maru Sheel: 我是传染病研究员。麻疹最常见的并发症是肺炎,也是儿童死亡的主要原因。此外,脑炎也是麻疹的严重并发症,可能导致死亡或智力障碍。一些罕见但严重的并发症包括麻疹病毒潜伏在体内多年后再次发作,攻击神经系统,导致进行性痴呆,几乎总是致命的。 Catherine Gibney: 我是传染病研究员。麻疹是已知最具传染性的病毒之一,其R0值高达12-18,远高于流感。麻疹病毒在空气中存活时间长,即使在低剂量下也能导致感染,并且在出现症状前就已经具有传染性。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The resurgence of measles in the U.S. sparks debate. While many recover quickly, measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, and even rare but fatal neurological conditions years later. The severity varies, but even mild cases can temporarily weaken the immune system.
  • Measles cases are rising in the U.S. and spreading to multiple states.
  • Most cases are in unvaccinated individuals.
  • Measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, and rare but serious neurological complications.
  • Even mild cases can weaken the immune system for months or years.

Shownotes Transcript

Measles is spreading in the U.S., with hundreds of cases across more than 20 states. And tons of people online are arguing over how we should feel about it. Some say this is bad because measles is SO contagious — and not enough people get the vaccine. But others say that measles isn't such a big deal, so why are we freaking out?? Didn't basically everyone get this virus back in the day and live to tell the tale? So we’ll find out — what is measles doing to our body (and our brain)? And how can we stop this outbreak ... and possibly rid the world of measles. We hear from New Scientist reporter Grace Wade, Prof. Peter Kasson, Dr. Meru Sheel and Dr. Katherine Gibney.

Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsMeasles)

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Measles cases are popping off in the U.S.

(04:04) How measles messes with our immune system

(10:13) How measles can kill

(14:54) How contagious is measles - really?

(18:46) How good is the measles vaccine?

(25:11) What are the risks of the measles vaccine?

(28:34) What it will take to stop this measles outbreak

This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wiley, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. A special thanks to the researchers we reached out to including Professor Rik de Swart, and a big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson and the Zukerman family. 

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