Recovering from measles does not protect against cancer or any other disease besides measles. In fact, a measles infection has the ability to wipe out immune responses built up against other infections—a phenomenon called immune amnesia, driven by the destruction of memory T- and B-cells. This leaves people who recover from the measles virus more vulnerable to all other germs.

This is not the only severe risk of measles. In addition to neurological and respiratory complications from measles infections, which can demonstrably turn deadly, measles can cause subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal neurological condition that can flare seven to 10 years after a measles infection. //

Before the development of measles vaccines, the virus infected 3 to 4 million people each year, sending an estimated 48,000 to the hospital. About 1,000 developed brain swelling and 400 to 500 died.

Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective against measles, and the protection is considered lifelong.