Tragic Consequences of Measles: A Mother’s Heartbreaking Story
Erica Finkelstein-Parker had meticulously planned her daughter Emmalee’s 8th birthday party. The theme was “Flying High with Emmalee,” as she knew her daughter adored airplanes. Finkelstein-Parker went above and beyond, preparing nearly two dozen goody bags for each child in Emmalee’s class, ensuring that no one would feel left out. Little did she know that this birthday party would never take place.
Emmalee, whom Finkelstein-Parker and her husband had adopted from an orphanage in India, developed a rare complication of measles that can strike years after the initial infection. The orphanage staff had failed to disclose Emmalee’s measles infection. As a result, on her 8th birthday, instead of celebrating with friends, Emmalee was in hospice care at home. The treat bags remained unopened, serving as painful reminders of what could have been.
“There are some things that a parent should never have to do,” said Finkelstein-Parker, her voice filled with grief. “I had to call the birthday venue and explain that we were canceling the party because our daughter was dying.” Tragically, Emmalee passed away on January 2, 2011.
Finkelstein-Parker’s heartbreaking story sheds light on the devastating consequences of measles, a disease that many believe to be a thing of the past. Dr. James Cherry, an infectious disease expert, warns that the massive resurgence of measles worldwide is due to declines in immunizations and rising rates of vaccine hesitancy among parents.
In recent months, numerous measles cases have been diagnosed in the United States, with unvaccinated travelers spreading the virus at international airports, hospitals, and day care centers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to health providers, urging them to be vigilant for more cases. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasizes the ease with which measles can spread, stating, “All it takes is one infected traveler to spark an outbreak.”
Measles is highly contagious, with each patient infecting an average of 12 to 18 people who lack immunity. In comparison, each COVID-19 patient infects only about two others. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stresses the contagious nature of measles, stating, “Measles is much, much more contagious than COVID or the flu.”
While two doses of the measles vaccine protect 97% of children, the virus spreads so rapidly that 95% of children in a community need to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks. However, a growing number of families are taking advantage of exemptions for religious, philosophical, or medical reasons, leading to vaccination rates below the threshold needed to contain outbreaks.
Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, emphasizes the risks associated with not vaccinating children against measles. Measles vaccines have been repeatedly proven to be safe. The long-term effects of measles can be severe, with hospitalization rates as high as 20%. For every 10,000 children infected with measles, 2,000 will be hospitalized, 1,000 will develop ear infections with potential hearing loss, 500 will develop pneumonia, and 10 to 30 will die.
Ariel Loop’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of babies to measles. Loop’s 4-month-old son, who had received all recommended vaccines, fell ill with measles after visiting Disneyland in 2015. Babies are not routinely vaccinated against the virus until they reach 12 to 15 months of age. Loop, a nurse, was unaware of the dangers of measles at the time. Her son developed red spots, itchy eyes, and a high fever that couldn’t be alleviated with acetaminophen.
Measles not only causes immediate complications but also has long-term effects. Patricia Stinchfield, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, explains that measles often leaves patients vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia, which can be fatal. Additionally, measles causes “immune amnesia,” wiping out a significant portion of a person’s antibodies and leaving them at increased risk for other infections.
The symptoms of measles go beyond the well-known red spots on the skin. Measles can cause white spots in the mouth, making it painful for children to eat or drink. Dehydration and malnourishment are common during the illness. Other symptoms include cough, lethargy, runny nose, pink eye, and fever. Measles patients can become extremely sensitive to light, and the virus can be spread for up to nine days after the onset of symptoms.
Emmalee’s case highlights one of the