#Vaccination

The US state of Virginia has reported its first confirmed measles case for 2025, raising fresh concerns about the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Health officials at the Virginia Department of Health announced the case on 19 April 2025, emphasizing the critical need to maintain high immunization rates. This news is not only significant for Americans, but offers urgent lessons for Thai families and healthcare providers in an era marked by global travel, vaccine hesitancy, and infectious disease risks.

The specter of polio, a disease once on the brink of global eradication, is looming large yet again as new reports from 2025 reveal troubling spikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, compounded by global aid disruptions and vaccine skepticism1. For Thai readers, these developments sound an urgent warning: even diseases thought to be “conquered” can return if public health vigilance lapses, offering a stark lesson relevant to Thailand’s ongoing immunization efforts and pandemic preparedness.

Polio, once nearing global eradication, now faces renewed risk as reports from 2025 highlight spikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The disruptions to aid campaigns and rising vaccine skepticism threaten progress and offer a crucial lesson for Thailand’s immunization and pandemic preparedness.

Despite decades of effort, polio has never fully left the world. The latest warnings focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan—the last two nations with active wild polio transmission. In 2024, Pakistan saw a sharp rise in cases, while Afghanistan reported dozens of infections, underscoring how operational challenges and vaccination gaps persist. Early 2025 figures show continued, though smaller, case numbers, reminding health officials that the virus can rebound with the right conditions.

The threat of measles is looming larger than ever with rising unvaccination rates posing significant public health risks worldwide. An enlightening report by The New York Times describes the grim reality of measles infection, specifically targeting unvaccinated children. Given the highly infectious nature of this virus, the findings are particularly poignant for Thailand, where vaccination campaigns have been critical in the past.

Measles, known as one of the most infectious viruses globally, requires no direct contact to spread. A simple stroll through a room where an infected individual was present could lead to transmission through inhaled droplets. The report highlighted that 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to measles will contract it. For Thailand, where public spaces such as markets and schools are pivotal in daily life, understanding this transmission dynamic is crucial in preventing outbreaks.

Measles remains highly contagious, and unvaccinated children are especially at risk. A recent analysis highlights how quickly measles can spread in communities with low vaccination coverage, a situation that could affect Thailand’s crowded markets, schools, and festivals.

Measles is one of the most infectious viruses, spreading through airborne droplets. Research shows that among those exposed who lack immunity, a large majority can become infected. For Thailand, understanding transmission in public spaces—markets, schools, and transport hubs—helps families and local authorities plan effective safeguards.

The rapid and expansive spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus has reached an unprecedented scale, according to a recent warning by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. This alarming trend, highlighted in their March analysis, brings to the forefront significant risks that could affect food security and health systems around the world, including Thailand.

The global spread of the H5N1 virus has reportedly led to the destruction of hundreds of millions of birds in various corners of the world. Concerns are mounting as the virus begins to affect mammals as well, a trend that scientists are closely monitoring for potential public health implications. For Thailand, a major player in both poultry farming and global chicken exportation, these developments could have profound implications. If similar outbreaks were to occur locally, the effects on the domestic poultry industry and food supply could be severe.

A recent investigative piece highlights a concerning phenomenon associated with measles infections: immune amnesia. This condition severely impairs the body’s immune memory, potentially making those who have recovered from measles more vulnerable to other infections for years to follow. This critical finding questions the myths surrounding measles immunity, emphasizing the importance of vaccination.

The implications of immune amnesia, particularly highlighted in the current measles outbreak starting from Texas and spreading across 19 states, underscore the virus’s true danger. Contrary to myths, contracting measles does not enhance immune strength; instead, it compromises it significantly. The measles virus eradicates immune cells that remember past infections, thereby diminishing the body’s ability to fend off diseases it had previously overcome. This viral strategy replaces the immunity against other pathogens with a temporary defense against measles, ultimately requiring re-encounters with past pathogens to rebuild immune memory.

A rapid global spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus is heightening concerns about Thailand’s poultry sector, food prices, and public health. A March briefing by FAO researchers warns that outbreaks could disrupt supply chains, raise costs, and strain health systems in a country that is both a major producer and a key tourist destination.

Worldwide culling has reached hundreds of millions of birds. Mammal infections are increasing, raising vigilance for any spillover into people. For Thailand, these dynamics threaten farm livelihoods, local markets, and the broader tourism economy that depends on safe, affordable food and stable rural incomes.

A new wave of research shows a troubling consequence of measles: immune amnesia. After a measles infection, the body’s immune memory can be erased, leaving a child more vulnerable to other infections for years. This challenges the belief that catching measles builds broader immunity and reinforces why vaccination matters for Thai families.

The topic is especially relevant as outbreaks persist in various regions. The virus’s danger goes beyond the immediate illness. Studies indicate that measles can erase immune cells that remember past infections, reducing protection against pathogens a child has previously fought. In effect, the immune system’s memory can reset, forcing families to contend with repeated illnesses.

A measles outbreak that began in Texas earlier this year has spread rapidly. By late March 2025, confirmed U.S. cases stood at 483. The surge raises questions about adult immunity, especially for those unsure about their vaccination history. About 93% of cases are linked to the Texas cluster, with spillover into nearby states where vaccination coverage varies. The outbreak mainly involves unvaccinated individuals, prompting debates on whether adults need a measles booster.

In a concerning development from West Texas, Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock has reported treating fewer than 10 pediatric patients for vitamin A toxicity, amidst a misinformation wave regarding vitamin A’s role in treating measles. This surge in cases is attributed to a misunderstanding promoted recently in media, particularly by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggesting that vitamin A can dramatically reduce measles mortality rates.

The children affected, initially hospitalized due to measles complications, now face the added complication of vitamin A toxicity, which can cause abnormal liver function and disrupt overall health, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has emphasized that while vitamin A may be administered as part of supportive care in severe measles cases, it is not a replacement for vaccination. This message, echoed by Dr. Philip Huang of Dallas County Health and Human Services, underlines the critical importance of the measles vaccine as the primary preventive measure.

A concerning healthcare episode in West Texas has led Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock to treat fewer than 10 pediatric patients for vitamin A toxicity. The spike follows misinformation about vitamin A’s role in treating measles, amplified by media attention tied to statements from public figures. Health authorities warn that vitamin A can support severe measles care in some cases, but it is not a substitute for vaccination.

The affected children were hospitalized for measles-related complications and later faced additional health risks from excessive vitamin A intake. The National Institutes of Health highlights that high vitamin A can disrupt liver function and overall health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterates that vaccination remains the cornerstone of measles prevention, with vitamin A used only as part of clinical care in specific, severe cases. Local health officials emphasize sticking to proven preventive measures, especially vaccination.

The recent measles outbreak affecting West Texas and New Mexico has taken an unexpected turn with several patients suffering from vitamin A toxicity, raising alarm over health misinformation. At Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock—close to the outbreak’s center—some of the unvaccinated children hospitalized for measles exhibited signs of abnormal liver function, a likely indication of excessive vitamin A intake, explained Dr. Lara Johnson, pediatric hospitalist and chief medical officer for Covenant Health-Lubbock Service Area source.

A measles outbreak across West Texas and parts of New Mexico has raised concerns beyond the virus itself. At a major pediatric hospital in Lubbock, clinicians report abnormal liver function in unvaccinated children treated for measles, prompting questions about vitamin A. Authorities caution against unverified health tips circulating online.

Experts warn that false claims about vitamin A preventing measles have circulated widely, fueling confusion among families. Public health leaders reiterate that vaccination remains the strongest, evidence-based defense. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective, making immunization the most reliable protection. Supplements cannot substitute proven vaccination.