A Los Angeles County child who had measles as a baby died from a rare complication called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The child was too young for the measles vaccine at the time of infection. SSPE, which develops years after measles, is fatal in 95% of cases. This death highlights the dangers of measles, particularly for unvaccinated infants, and underscores the importance of MMR vaccination. The US is experiencing a significant measles outbreak this year, exceeding numbers since 2000. High vaccination rates protect vulnerable populations.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.