Parents are holding ‘measles parties’ in the U.S., alarming health experts
- Oscar Jones
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
In a troubling development, as measles cases continue to surge in Texas, where a child recently died, health officials are issuing urgent warnings against the dangerous practice of so-called "measles parties." These intentional exposures, designed to build natural immunity, are being condemned as "foolishness" and a significant public health risk.
The current outbreak, concentrated in West Texas, has seen 146 cases reported since late January, with spillover into New Mexico. Tragically, an unvaccinated school-aged child in the region succumbed to the disease, underscoring the severity of the situation. Simultaneously, Canada is also experiencing a rise in measles cases, with British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec reporting significant outbreaks.
Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus, spreads rapidly through coughs and sneezes, primarily affecting children. This heightened vulnerability is the core reason health officials are vehemently opposing "measles parties." These gatherings, reminiscent of "chickenpox parties" before the advent of the chickenpox vaccine, involve parents deliberately exposing their children to infected individuals in hopes of inducing natural immunity.
During a recent media briefing hosted by the City of Lubbock, Texas, Ron Cook, chief health officer at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, emphasized the potential for severe complications from measles. "There are severe outcomes like pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Even more rare, but it can happen … years down the road after you develop measles, you can get what is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal. It is a known side effect of having measles," Cook warned.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a devastating, progressive brain disorder that can manifest years after a measles infection. Symptoms typically emerge six to eight years post-infection as the virus gradually destroys brain cells. Currently, there is no known cure for SSPE.
Cook revealed that he has encountered reports of these "measles parties" circulating on social media within the region. "It’s not good to go have measles parties … let me discourage you from doing this," he implored. "We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized and potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis and or pass away from this."
He further emphasized the unpredictability of measles complications, stating, "It is just too risky … we don’t get to pick and choose who is going to do well and not do well when you become severely ill. Please don’t do that, it’s just foolishness, it’s playing roulette." The most effective defense against measles, he stressed, is full vaccination.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also publicly called for increased measles vaccination. "Ending the measles outbreak is a top priority for me and my extraordinary team," Kennedy stated on X. The Department of Health and Human Services is set to provide Texas with 2,000 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
In a recent opinion piece for Fox News, Kennedy highlighted the dual benefits of vaccination, protecting individual children and contributing to herd immunity, which safeguards those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. "As the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I am deeply concerned about the recent measles outbreak," he wrote. "Parents play a pivotal role in safeguarding their children’s health. All parents should consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine."
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