Doctors Warn of Deadly Measles Complication as Outbreaks Rise

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) can develop years after measles infection, often fatally, as vaccination rates drop.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:03pm

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Doctors are warning about a deadly complication from measles called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) that can develop years after a measles infection, often fatally. SSPE cases are expected to rise as vaccination rates drop and measles outbreaks increase in the U.S. The condition typically takes years to appear after the initial measles infection, leaving patients severely disabled or dead. Experts say the best way to prevent SSPE is through widespread vaccination to achieve herd immunity and stop the spread of measles.

Why it matters

SSPE is a rare but devastating neurological condition that can occur after a measles infection, especially in young children. As measles outbreaks have increased in recent years due to declining vaccination rates, doctors fear more SSPE cases will follow. This highlights the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination levels to protect vulnerable populations, including infants too young to be vaccinated.

The details

SSPE is caused by the measles virus secretly making its way to the brain, sometimes years after the initial infection. It typically takes 7-10 years for symptoms like paralysis, seizures, and loss of speech to appear. While some patients may experience a period of disability, SSPE is almost always fatal. Researchers estimate about 1 in 10,000 people who get measles will develop SSPE, with a higher risk for those infected before age 5. As vaccination rates have dropped, the U.S. has seen over 3,500 measles cases since 2025, more than the entire previous decade, leading doctors to warn SSPE cases will likely rise as well.

  • Since the start of 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded over 3,500 measles cases — more than in the entire preceding decade.
  • Last year, a school-age child in California who had measles as an infant died of SSPE.

The players

Deepanwita Dasgupta

An 8-year-old girl in Bangalore, India who contracted measles as an infant and is now paralyzed and unable to talk due to SSPE.

Yasmin Khakoo

A doctor in New York City with expertise in neurologic conditions who leads the national Child Neurology Society.

Adam Ratner

A member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases and author of the book Booster Shots.

Aaron Nelson

A professor of neurology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine who has recently seen SSPE cases.

Nava Yeganeh

The medical director with the Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program at the Los Angeles County public health department, who has had two patients with SSPE.

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What they’re saying

“We don't have a way of knowing who's going to get it, and we don't have a way of very effectively treating it. The one best thing that we can do, ideally, is to prevent children from having to go through it in the first place.”

— Aaron Nelson, Professor of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine

“This is an example of someone who did everything right, wanted to protect their child against this infection, and unfortunately ended up losing their child because we didn't have herd immunity for them.”

— Nava Yeganeh, Medical Director, Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program, Los Angeles County Public Health Department

“Imagine that: Having a child who is healthy and happy, moving to talking less and less, eventually not able to walk. It's a very sad thing.”

— Aaron Nelson, Professor of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine

What’s next

Doctors and public health officials are working to raise awareness about SSPE among clinicians and the public, in order to encourage higher vaccination rates and prevent future outbreaks of measles that could lead to more cases of this devastating condition.

The takeaway

The rise in measles outbreaks due to declining vaccination rates poses a serious threat, as it increases the risk of the deadly SSPE complication developing years later. Maintaining high vaccination coverage is crucial to protect vulnerable populations and prevent this tragic outcome.