Latest news with #measles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
New high-resolution structures of measles virus enzyme could lead to protective measures
May 30—Using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM), researchers at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, have revealed the first high-resolution renderings of the measles virus's (MeV) polymerase. This enzyme is crucial for the virus's ability to hijack cells and make copies of itself, which is one aspect that makes the virus so effective at infecting people and spreading throughout the body. For a virus that's been documented since at least the ninth century, there is still plenty we have to learn about the measles virus and how it operates, Associate Professor Bin Liu, PhD, explained as he discussed his new study published in Nature Communications. "Even well-known viruses like measles still have uncharted molecular terrain, and illuminating its structure provides valuable insights for therapeutic development," Liu said. By revealing measles' structure, Liu, along with Postdoctoral Researchers Dong Wang, PhD, and Ge Yang, PhD, have unlocked valuable insights that could help other researchers develop preventative and therapeutic measures to combat this deadly virus that can cause complications ranging from pneumonia to ear infections to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). "Although an effective vaccine is available, recent measles outbreaks highlight the urgent need for alternative antiviral treatments," Liu said. "Because the polymerase is essential for viral genome replication, it represents a critical target for antiviral intervention." The study presents two new, distinct renderings of MeV polymerase complexes known as Lcore-P and Lfull-P-C. According to Liu, one of the most intriguing findings is the structural role of the measles virus C protein in forming the Lfull-P-C complex with two other proteins, L and P. This is surprising because the C protein was traditionally seen as a regulatory protein, not part of its core replication machinery. Now, it's shown to physically bridge and modulate the L protein's activity, potentially influencing how efficiently the virus replicates. Additionally, the study shows that the C protein widens the polymerase's RNA channel in the polymerase, possibly enhancing the processivity of RNA synthesis. That kind of physical alteration, revealed via cryoEM at near-atomic resolution, is a remarkable mechanistic insight. It suggests that the measles virus has evolved an elegant, multi-protein solution for efficient replication inside host cells. This kind of structural adaptation is a biological engineering marvel, and it highlights how even simple viruses can have complex, dynamic protein machinery. By revealing detailed interactions within the Lfull-P-C complex, the paper opens doors for next-generation antiviral drug designs that halt viral replication. "This shifts the measles conversation from 'solved by vaccines' to 'still relevant for therapeutic innovation,'" Liu concluded.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
CDC tells Americans to CANCEL their flights after finding world's most infectious disease is spreading on planes
The CDC is urging Americans to cancel their upcoming flights if they are not vaccinated against measles. The agency has upgraded its health travel warning after discovering the virus - one of the most infectious in the world - is spreading on US airplanes. A previous recommendation that said Americans should 'consider making alternative travel plans' if they could not get vaccinated before departing now says travelers should 'consider postponing their trip.' Estimates suggest around 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time — the equivalent of 25million adults. Measles infections have been detected at the country's biggest airports in recent months amid a resurgence of the virus linked to low vaccination rates. Now, after investigating dozens of patients who were contagious while flying, the CDC confirmed at least one case where the virus was spread during air travel. All US travelers are now being recommended to be fully vaccinated for measles before going on any international flights. And doctors are being advised to give additional measles vaccines to domestic travelers going to Texas, where over 700 people have been infected so far this year. The CDC's latest update, published Wednesday, reads: 'Travelers can catch measles in many travel settings including travel hubs like airports and train stations, on public transportation like airplanes and trains, at tourist attractions, and at large, crowded events.' Since the beginning of this year, the CDC has received 62 reports of travelers infected with measles while flying into the US or within the country, a CDC spokesperson told CBS News. An investigation of 50 of those passengers showed the agency measles spread during air travel in at least one of those situations. The CDC said this is usually based on confirmed infectious individuals sitting next to each other. The latest airport warning came Friday as three passengers flying into Denver International Airport on the same Turkish Airlines flight tested positive for measles. One of them was a vaccinated adult. As of 2025, precise data on the number of US adults unvaccinated against measles is limited. However, historical estimates suggest that approximately 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time. Given the US adult population of about 258 million, this could translate to roughly 25 million adults who are potentially unprotected against measles. Around 90 percent of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks in the US rather than travel outside the country. Symptoms - which include a blotchy rash, fever, cough and runny nose - typically develop seven to 21 days after initial exposure. Measles spreads via airborne droplets released in coughs and sneezes, which can hang in the air for up to two hours after a patient passes. It is particularly dangerous to young children, with the CDC saying one in 20 unvaccinated children who are infected develop pneumonia while one in 1,000 suffer deadly brain swelling. A total of 1,088 Americans have been infected so far this year, and two unvaccinated young girls have died.
CBS News
8 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
As Colorado measles cases grow, doctors share who does, and doesn't, need boosters
As measles cases in Colorado continue to rise, doctors are sharing how to know if you need a booster or not. Another measles case was reported in Colorado on Thursday, it is the 7th confirmed case of measles in the state. Officials said this case is related to two others we reported this week. The three people were on the same flight into Denver International Airport earlier this month. The Colorado State Health Department confirmed the most recent case was a vaccinated adult who was a passenger on a Turkish Airlines flight that flew to Denver on May 13. A new Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images An out-of-state traveler and a 5-year-old child from Arapahoe County are the other two people on that flight who have been confirmed with the disease. That child was unvaccinated and is currently being treated at Children's Hospital Colorado. This third person, also an Arapahoe County resident, was in several public spaces in Denver, Aurora, Greenwood Village, and Evergreen while infectious between May 22 and 26. Seven cases may not seem like a big surge, but in 2024, there were zero cases in the state. After the measles vaccine was introduced, the disease was considered almost eradicated. With a recent surge in cases, it's leading to many questions about who may need a booster. Doctors said, unless you are unvaccinated, don't stress out too much. Boxes and vials of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Virus vaccine Jan Sonnenmair / Getty Images People born before 1957 are considered immune because the disease was so prevalent that they are presumed to have been exposed. In 1963, the vaccine was introduced, and anyone who got it should have some level of immunity. If you have had two doses of the live vaccine, doctors said you should be ok. And if it's been a while since you've had a vaccine? Well, doctors said that's ok too. "Those people who have had 2 doses of that vaccine virus, that is almost completely enough to prevent against measles for the rest of your life," said Dr. Dan Pastula, Head of Neuro Infectious Diseases at UCHealth. If you are concerned or you are at a high risk for exposure, you should talk to your healthcare provider. "You can get tested to see if you have immunity. And if you don't, then you could get a booster. But for the average person, no, we don't need to have a booster shot," said Dr. Bob Belknap, the Director of the Public Health Institute at Denver Health. Tests for measles immunity measure IgG antibody levels and can be done by a primary care physician and CVS MinuteClinics. Doctors said if you've never had measles, you don't want it. "Symptoms for measles usually start out with a pretty high fever, along with cough, runny nose, red, itchy, watery eyes. And then the rash comes, and the rash typically starts on the face or near the hairline and then spreads down the body. It's uncomfortable. It's itchy. It can be painful. And in, in the worst case, it can lead to pneumonias, problems in the lungs or even swelling around the brain," said Belknap. Both doctors agree immunity is the only way to avoid measles, which you can get one of two ways. Surviving measles or a vaccine, and the vaccine is the least troublesome way to gain immunity. "For anyone who is unvaccinated, it's not worth taking that risk. It's better off to just get the vaccine," said Belknap. There has been a rumor going around that vitamin A is effective at preventing measles and treating it. Doctors said that's not true, and you can give yourself liver damage if you take too much.
CBC
8 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Measles exposure identified at Winkler autobody shop, Manitoba government says
Social Sharing Anyone who was at a southern Manitoba autobody shop at certain times over the past week might have been exposed to measles, the province said Friday. The possible exposures happened at Moonlite Auto Body at 420 Airport Dr. in Winkler, Man., on May 23, 26 and 27 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., a provincial news release said. Anyone potentially exposed on those dates should monitor for symptoms until June 14, 17 and 18, respectively, the release said. The province says some of the recent measles cases detected in Manitoba didn't have any known contact with another measles case, meaning it spread in the community. Anyone who thinks they might have been exposed at the autobody shop but hasn't been directly notified should call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 toll-free in Manitoba, the province said. As of Wednesday (the most recent update available), Manitoba had confirmed 72 cases of measles since February and four other probable cases. Fifty-three of those cases were detected this month. Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through droplets in the air that form when someone with the illness coughs or sneezes. Symptoms generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure, and can initially include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability, red eyes and small white spots on the inside of the mouth or throat, the province said. Several days after those initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and moves down the body. An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears to four days after, the province said. The disease also tends to be more severe in infants and young kids, and can be life-threatening and lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (brain inflammation). If a person develops measles symptoms, anyone who might have been exposed is advised to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider to tell them about the potential exposure, the province said. Anyone else in the home who isn't immunized against measles should limit their exposure to other people until the symptomatic person has received advice from their health-care provider. The province also notes it's best to call ahead so your health-care provider can take steps to reduce the risk of exposing other people to the virus. Immunization against measles is the only way to protect against getting the illness, the province said, encouraging people to contact an immunization provider such as a local public health office, physician or nurse practitioner to ensure coverage is up to date. In Manitoba, a two-dose vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR or MMRV) is routinely given for children who are at least one, and again between ages four and six. However, in the case of a measles exposure, a second dose can be given earliert, the province said.
CBC
12 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Does Canada need another pipeline?
Coming up on Cross Country Checkup ... As Canada's trade war with the US continues, Mark Carney says he wants to fast track a slew of big resource projects including pipelines. Does Canada need another pipeline? Plus, Support grows for mandatory school vaccination as measles cases continue to rise. What conversations are you having about measles vaccination? What questions do you have? Join Ian Hanomansing on CBC Radio One, CBC Listen and CBC News Network. Call Checkup at 1-888-416-8333, or text 226-758-8924 or go to .
