In The News: The Measles Outbreak
This year we have seen a resurgence of measles, a highly contagious viral disease. Before the introduction of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in the 1960s, measles was nearly eradicated in many regions due to natural immunity cycles, only to resurface with greater visibility as vaccination efforts began. This paradox continues to spark debate.
Today’s outbreak has reignited concerns, with voices like Del Bigtree of The HighWire and Dr. Peter McCullough offering alternative perspectives alongside mainstream views. Below, we explore the possible reasons for this resurgence, including reduced immunity due to COVID-19 and its vaccines. We also examine the risks of administering MMR to young children.
A Measles Comeback: What’s Happening?
Measles, spread via respiratory droplets, causes fever, rash, and, in severe cases, complications like pneumonia or encephalitis. Historically, it was a ubiquitous childhood illness. Still, by the mid-20th century, improved sanitation and nutrition had drastically reduced its mortality, bringing it close to natural eradication in some areas. The MMR vaccine, introduced in 1963, aimed to finish the job, yet paradoxically, measles cases gained attention as vaccination rolled out. In 2025, cases are surging again, affecting unvaccinated and some vaccinated individuals, prompting scrutiny of both the disease and its prevention strategies.
Vaccine Hesitancy: A Persistent Challenge
Vaccine hesitancy is a significant factor in the current outbreak. Del Bigtree has argued on The HighWire that distrust in public health, heightened during the COVID-19 era, has led parents to question the MMR vaccine. He points to a lack of transparency about its risks as a driver of skepticism, noting that pre-vaccine measles was often a manageable childhood illness.
Reduced Immunity Post-Covid: A Natural Consequence?
The Covid-19 pandemic may have altered immunity landscapes. Lockdowns from 2020-2022 reduced exposure to pathogens like measles, limiting natural immune boosts. Speaking on The HighWire, Dr. Peter McCullough suggests this could weaken long-term protection, even among the vaccinated, as natural infection historically offered robust, lifelong immunity compared to the potentially waning effects of MMR. This might explain why some vaccinated individuals are falling ill in 2025.
The Covid Vaccine Connection
There is a theory linking COVID-19 vaccines to the outbreak. Dr. McCullough has hypothesized that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might cause “immune interference,” redirecting immune focus and potentially reducing responses to measles. On The HighWire, he and Bigtree have pointed to breakthrough cases in vaccinated people as evidence of possible immune disruption. However, mainstream science calls for more data. This speculation fuels debate about how COVID-era interventions might intersect with childhood vaccines.
Is Measles Changing? Insights from McCullough and Bigtree
McCullough has suggested on The HighWire that the measles virus may evolve, with current cases deviating from historical norms. He contrasts natural immunity—once nearly universal and durable—with vaccine-induced immunity, which may struggle against a shifting virus. Bigtree argues that public health oversimplifies measles, ignoring potential changes that could challenge MMR efficacy.
Risks of MMR for Young Children: A Growing Concern
Administering MMR to young children carries documented risks, a point emphasized by critics like Bigtree and McCullough. The CDC acknowledges rare but serious side effects, including febrile seizures (1 in 3,000-4,000 doses), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count, 1 in 30,000), and, in sporadic cases, encephalitis (1 in 1 million).
Bigtree has highlighted anecdotal reports of developmental regressions or autoimmune issues post-vaccination, though causation remains unproven.
McCullough warns that young immune systems, still maturing, might be overwhelmed by simultaneous exposure to three live viruses (measles, mumps, rubella), potentially increasing susceptibility to adverse reactions. Pre-vaccine measles typically struck older children when immune systems were more robust—a contrast fueling calls for reevaluating early vaccination timing.
Implications and the Road Ahead
The 2025 measles outbreak reflects a complex interplay: a disease nearly eradicated pre-vaccine naturally, resurfacing amid modern interventions; hesitancy and risks tied to MMR; and potential immunity shifts from Covid. Bigtree and McCullough spotlight trust issues, vaccine safety, and natural immunity’s historical role while mainstream efforts push vaccination drives. Once a fading memory, measles demands we rethink its past and present in 2025.