Journal article
Three paradoxical paradigms of measles virus
PLoS pathogens, Vol.22(4), e1014135
04/2026
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1014135
PMID: 41984888
Abstract
Introduction
Measles is estimated to have diverged from rinderpest, a devastating cattle pathogen, around the sixth century BCE [1]. This is thought to have coincided with the rise of large cities, allowing for populations large enough (~250,000–500,000 people) to support continuous measles virus transmission. Measles today is highly adapted to humans and despite its zoonotic origin, there are no animal reservoirs for measles. Measles is the most contagious human virus and has co-existed with us for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Nonimmune individuals exposed to measles have a 90% likelihood of infection. The term measles was coined in 1693 by Thomas Sydenham, from the medieval English mesles and the Latin misella, a diminutive of misery [2]. Measles was endemic in much of Europe, Asia, India, and China since the Middle Ages. Following European colonial expansion in the 16th century, measles spread worldwide with devastating consequences. Severe measles epidemics in Cuba and Honduras reportedly killed nearly 67% of the total native population from 1529-1531 [2,3]. In the wake of a resurgence of measles cases worldwide, it is of interest to note some unique paradoxes of this virus.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Three paradoxical paradigms of measles virus
- Creators
- Stephanie E Clark - University of IowaPatrick L Sinn - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PLoS pathogens, Vol.22(4), e1014135
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.ppat.1014135
- PMID
- 41984888
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS Pathog
- ISSN
- 1553-7374
- eISSN
- 1553-7374
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Grant note
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: R01 AI189662
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health: NIH R01 AI189662 (PLS). The funders played no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2026
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Pulmonary Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
- Record Identifier
- 9985153360802771
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