Dr. Wilmore Webley, PhD,  presents "Measles After 50 Years". Health Watch USA(sm) 2025 Webinar: Combating Infectious Disease Challenges. Aug. 29, 2025.
 
Wilmore Webley, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Senior Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Webley discusses the research and vaccine history of the measles virus, along with its severe clinical impact. He emphasizes that measles causes not only acute illness but also “immune amnesia,” erasing immune memory and leaving survivors vulnerable to other diseases. Due to the virus's extreme contagiousness, a high rate of immunity in the community, greater than 95%, is necessary for herd immunity to take place and to stop the spread of the virus. As the presentation discusses, the benefit of the vaccine greatly outweighs its risks. Unfortunately, misinformation is rampant, and immunization rates are falling. In many areas they are well below the level needed to achieve herd immunity. Much of the misinformation can be traced back to a deeply flawed 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield which was published in the Lancet and later retracted by the Journal. The study was not controlled, suboptimally conducted, and involved only 12 patients.(1) Numerous large studies have not found a relationship between vaccines and autism. In one study, unvaccinated individuals were even found to have a statistically non-significant higher rate.(2,3) It is ironic that hundreds of thousands of patients have been studied to counter the initial 12-patient report. Research dollars could have been spent elsewhere, such as researching other causes of autism. Health Watch USA(sm) Conference, Aug. 29, 2025.

Key Points (AI Assisted):
• Measles is an ancient and highly contagious disease, originating around 5,000 years ago, likely from a cattle virus, and has caused significant mortality, particularly among Indigenous populations after European colonization.
• Major scientific milestones include the isolation of the measles virus in 1954, the first vaccine in 1963, and later understanding of measles-induced “immune amnesia,” which erases immune memory and leaves survivors susceptible to other diseases.
• Measles is extremely infectious: one person can spread it to 12–18 others. Herd immunity requires at least 95% vaccination coverage.
• Symptoms range from fever and rash to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. One in 1,000 children with measles may die; other complications include ear infections and diarrhea.
• Vitamin A supplementation can reduce severe outcomes in malnourished populations but does not prevent measles infection.
• The 1998 retracted study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, et al, falsely linked MMR vaccination to autism. Although now thoroughly discredited it caused widespread vaccine hesitancy, leading to outbreaks and declining vaccination rates.
• Numerous large-scale studies have found no connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.
• Measles cases have surged in recent years, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.
• Vaccination is highly effective: one dose offers about 95% protection; two doses provide even greater immunity and help establish herd immunity.
• Vaccine side effects are rare and mild compared to the risks of measles and its complications.
• Dr. Webley stresses the importance of combating misinformation, maintaining high vaccination coverage, and upholding evidence-based science to protect public health.

References

(1) Godlee F, Smith J, Marcovitch H. Wakefield's article linking MMR vaccine and autism was fraudulent. BMJ. 2011 Jan 5;342:c7452. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c7452. PMID: 21209060. https://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7452.long  

(2) Hviid A, Hansen JV, Frisch M, Melbye M. Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination and Autism: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Apr 16;170(8):513-520. doi: 10.7326/M18-2101. Epub 2019 Mar 5. PMID: 30831578. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-2101

(3) Data on the MMR Vaccine & Autism | Visualized Health. Mar. 7, 2019. https://www.clearvuehealth.com/b/autism-mmr-stats/ 
 

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/a-ktPERtdWU  
 
Health Watch USA^sm Webinar, Combating Infectious Disease Challenges. Have we gone twenty steps forward or backwards?  Aug. 29, 2025  Download Slides
   
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