Measles
The infection: Measles, caused by the measles morbillivirus.
Its threat potential: Measles is an example of a re-emerging disease. The extremely contagious infection was once considered a prime candidate for eradication, thanks to a highly effective childhood vaccine. But declining vaccination rates have allowed measles to regain a foothold in many parts of the world, and experts fear that 2022 will see very high case numbers once again.
Symptoms and treatment: High fever, cough, and a distinctive rash that covers the body. It’s only rarely fatal, though moreso in younger children. But even in survivors, it can cause a rare neurological condition years after infection or effectively reset people’s immune memory to other infections, causing them to be susceptible once again. No specific treatment exists for it, though symptoms usually go away on their own within several weeks.
