(WXYZ) — In today’s Health Alert, amid new measles cases reported in Washtenaw County, doctors are warning about a rare but deadly brain disorder linked to measles. It’s called Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis, and it can appear years after someone seems to recover.
We know that measles can cause serious complications. Ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and encephalitis are well-known. But Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis, or SSPE, has rarely been seen in the US since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
Now, SSPE is a progressive and deadly brain disorder. It may stem from the immune system reacting abnormally to the virus, or to a variant form of it. What’s unusual about SSPE is that it doesn’t show up right away. It usually begins about 7 to 10 years after a measles infection, even if the person fully recovered and seemed completely healthy. Now, why does this happen? Well, researchers think the virus may not completely leave the body and may stay hidden in the brain for years. So far, scientists still don’t fully understand what causes it to become active later…