Measles is an extremely contagious and sometimes life-threatening viral disease.
Unvaccinated individuals belong to the highest-risk group. Below are the essential facts you need to know about this infection.

1. Measles is a serious disease

Measles typically begins with:

• High fever

• Cough

• Runny nose

• Conjunctivitis

• A characteristic skin rash

It can also cause severe complications:

• Pneumonia — the most common cause of death related to measles

• Encephalitis — can lead to deafness and intellectual disability

Approximately 1–2 out of every 1,000 children with measles die from the infection.

2. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world

An infected person can transmit the virus to 12–18 other people — an extremely high epidemiological rate.

The virus spreads through airborne droplets and can remain in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves the room.

The most dangerous fact:

People become contagious BEFORE the rash appears.

3. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles

Since 1963, the measles vaccine has been widely used and provides very high protection.
In the United States and many other countries, the majority of the population is vaccinated.

4. The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000

However, beginning in 2014, due to rising vaccine hesitancy and importation of the virus from abroad, significant outbreaks re-emerged.
A major 2015 outbreak originated among visitors to the Disneyland amusement parks.

5. Before vaccination, nearly all children contracted measles

Before vaccines were available, in the United States:

• 3–4 million cases occurred annually

• 400–500 deaths

• 48,000 severe complications were recorded every year

6. Having measles once provides lifelong immunity

A single natural infection protects a person from reinfection for life.

7. Not everyone can receive the vaccine

Individuals with medical contraindications include:

• Children under 1 year of age

• People with weakened immune systems (cancer, immunosuppressive therapy, etc.)

Therefore, vaccination of surrounding individuals is critical to protect these vulnerable groups.

8. The measles vaccine provides very strong protection

According to the CDC:

• 1 dose — 93% protection

• 2 doses — 97% protection

Fully vaccinated people are much less likely to contract measles, and if they do, the illness is typically mild.

9. Claims linking the measles vaccine to autism are baseless

A 1998 study that sparked widespread fear was later:

• Found to contain falsified data

• Retracted by the journal

• Led to the author losing his medical license

There is no scientific evidence linking MMR vaccination to autism.

10. It is never too late to get vaccinated

If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated and have no contraindications, the CDC recommends receiving the MMR vaccine.

Even an additional dose is harmless.

Genetic Mutation: How the PRDM12 Gene Blocks Pain Sensation

Pain is the body’s essential warning system.
However, some people with a rare genetic mutation do not feel pain at all — a condition far from being “lucky,” because it leaves them vulnerable to severe injuries.

What does the PRDM12 gene do?

The PRDM12 gene plays a key role in the development of nociceptors — nerve cells that transmit pain signals.

A mutation in this gene:

• Disrupts the formation of nociceptors

• Prevents pain perception

• Causes individuals not to feel burns, fractures, or eye injuries

This can be life-threatening.

What does this mean for science?

Understanding how PRDM12 functions may one day help:

• Develop new medications that block chronic pain without harmful side effects

Neurobiologist Simon Halegoua from Stony Brook University notes:

“This discovery is very promising, but there is still a long way to go before clinical application.”

Conclusion

Measles is a dangerous but fully preventable disease.
Research on the PRDM12 gene, meanwhile, shows how genetic discoveries can transform the future of pain treatment.

Both topics — infectious disease and genetic science — highlight how complex and remarkable human health truly is.