Bucharest, Romania – Leading infectious disease specialist Prof. Dr. Simin Aysel Florescu warns measles is a perhaps fatal viral illness with no specific antiviral treatment, emphasizing vaccination as the sole preventative measure. In a recent interview with Science 360 producer Corina Negrea, Florescu, head of infectious diseases at UMF Carol Davila and manager of Bucharest’s Clinical Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases ”Dr. Victor Babeș,” detailed the multiple ways measles can lead to death.
Florescu highlighted severe respiratory complications, especially bacterial pneumonia occurring as a complication of measles, as a primary cause of fatality. She stated that measles, a highly contagious respiratory illness, exhibits a “tropism” for the immune system, specifically lymphocytes, potentially causing systemic failure.
Beyond respiratory issues, Florescu underscored the danger of measles-related encephalitis – infection of the central nervous system – which carries an almost 100% fatality rate in primary cases. Statistically, she noted, approximately one in 1,000 children who contract measles will develop encephalitis, and one in 1,000 will die from multiple causes related to the infection.
“Once the measles are taken, once the disease started, it all depends on how the body manages this viral infection,” Florescu explained, adding that young children are particularly vulnerable due to their developing immune systems. She stressed that as there is no etiological treatment for measles, supportive care is frequently enough “absolutely insignificant” in severe cases, reinforcing the critical importance of preventative vaccination to ”prevent the disease, prevent complications of the disease and prevent death by measles.”
