What People With Cancer Should Know About The Measles Outbreak

This Patch article is sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Nearly 20 years ago, public health officials declared that measles had been eliminated in the United States. Today, however, the illness is resurging. Although the number of overall cases has started to decline, there have been 1,123 cases of the disease documented across 28 states, including New York, during the first half of this year. The vast majority of cases in this outbreak have occurred among unvaccinated children who live in certain zip codes.

The MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and rubella) is a routine childhood vaccination that can prevent people from ever getting measles, with a few exceptions. You’re also protected for life if you had measles as a child.

For people with cancer who have not been vaccinated, measles can pose an especially serious threat. Mini Kamboj, MD, Chief Medical Epidemiologist, Infection Control, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), explains the reasons why and how these people can take precautions to stay safe.

Why is measles especially dangerous for people with cancer?

The risk of a complication from measles is higher for a person undergoing cancer treatment compared with someone who has a healthy immune system. The most dreaded complications seen in severely immunocompromised patients are if the disease spreads to the brain (encephalitis) or the lungs (pneumonitis).

Can a person with cancer get vaccinated for measles?

Simply put, no. People actively undergoing chemotherapy cannot get the vaccine. MMR is a live vaccine, which means that it creates a very mild form of the measles infection in the body in order to induce immunity. In those with a weakened immune system, such as someone undergoing cancer therapy, that mild infection could become severe.

If a person was vaccinated for measles before getting cancer, should he or she get revaccinated after cancer treatment?

The majority of vaccinated people who go through cancer treatment do not need to get revaccinated. If they’re not sure if they ever received the vaccine and they want to consider it now, they should talk to their doctor. They may be eligible to receive the vaccine if they are no longer on active therapy. Patients who are no longer actively being treated and reside in affected zip codes or plan to travel outside the U.S. should contact their doctor to see if they are eligible to safely receive MMR.

People who undergo bone marrow or stem cell transplants need to get revaccinated regardless of the community outbreak because they lose immunity to vaccines they previously received. Usually for people who have undergone transplant, it is recommended they get the MMR vaccine two years after transplant if otherwise eligible.

How can people who can’t be vaccinated protect themselves?

The most important preventative measure is to ensure that all healthy people around you — your family, spouse, kids — are up to date on their vaccinations. This prevents them from getting sick from measles and spreading the disease to others around them who have weakened immune systems. It’s a misconception that if someone is undergoing cancer treatment, no one in the household can get the MMR vaccine. That is not true.

For a person who has never had the MMR vaccine or is not immune to measles, there are other preventive strategies we can offer, such as treatment with specialized medicine.

Do people with cancer have different measles symptoms?

The main symptoms are the same. Measles commonly presents with fever, cough, rash, and red eyes.

What is MSK doing to keep patients safe from measles?

MSK is screening current patients and visitors to our Pediatric Unit, MSK Kids, and our Urgent Care Center for signs and symptoms of measles. Children age five or younger are not permitted to visit our highest risk units until the outbreak is over. We’re asking people if they’ve had recent contact with someone who had measles. We have also put together a question-and-answer document that we are distributing to patients and visitors. MSK is dedicated to protecting our patients and we are taking the necessary steps to keep them safe.

Learn more about Memorial Sloan Kettering's locations in Uniondale, Commack, and Hauppauge at www.mskcc.org/longisland.