Measles Outbreaks Force Immunocompromised Children Into Isolation
Hundreds of thousands of families with immunocompromised children are keeping their kids isolated at home as measles continues to spread across communities. These children cannot fight off the virus like healthy kids can.
Hundreds of thousands of families with immunocompromised children are making life-or-death decisions about basic activities like going to school or the grocery store as measles outbreaks continue spreading.
Children who are immunocompromised - meaning their immune systems are weakened by cancer treatments, organ transplants, or genetic conditions - cannot fight off measles like healthy children. For them, the virus can cause severe complications or death.
Community outbreaks should always be taken seriously, even when most people are vaccinated. The virus can still spread among certain groups, including people who are immunocompromised or live in areas where fewer people get vaccinated.
Measles can also cause a rare but fatal brain disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis that develops 7 to 10 years after infection. Immunocompromised children with measles may not show typical symptoms, making the disease harder to catch early.
If you have a child with cancer, organ transplants, or other conditions that weaken immunity, measles can be deadly. Even communities with good vaccination rates can still have outbreaks that put these vulnerable kids at serious risk.
Families will continue isolating vulnerable children until outbreaks end in their communities.
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