LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Health officials on Thursday reported the death of a Los Angeles County child from a complication of measles infection acquired during infancy.
The child, identified only as school-aged, was originally infected with measles as an infant before they were eligible to receive the measles vaccine which is routinely recommended to be administered between 12 and 15 months, the L.A. County Public Health department said in a statement.
Although they recovered from the initial measles illness, the child developed and ultimately died from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE - a rare but universally fatal complication that can occur in individuals who had measles early in life, according to the agency.
SSPE is a rare, progressive brain disorder that is a late complication of infection from the measles virus, the news release said. The complication usually develops two to 10 years after the initial measles infection after the patient seemed to fully recover. It is characterized by a gradual and worsening loss of neurological function with death occurring one to three years after the initial diagnosis.
There is no cure or effective treatment for SSPE, which affects about 1 in 10,000 people with measles. The risk may be much higher - about 1 in 600 - for those who get measles as infants, health officials say.
"This case is a painful reminder of how dangerous measles can be, especially for our most vulnerable community members," L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement. "Infants too young to be vaccinated rely on all of us to help protect them through community immunity. Vaccination is not just about protecting yourself-it's about protecting your family, your neighbors, and especially children who are too young to be vaccinated."
The Public Health department urged residents to check their immunization status, notify a healthcare provider if you are at higher risk, watch for symptoms and take immediate action.