Can contracting measles compromise your immunity to other diseases? | Fact brief

YES. Contracting measles can compromise your immunity to other diseases through a phenomenon known as "immune amnesia."

Measles, a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by an airborne virus, can erase some of the immune system's stored memory of past diseases. In other words, the body may "forget" how to fight infections it was previously protected against.

AllSides highlights content from Gigafact, a network of newsrooms that respond to online claims. View the full fact brief on Maine Trust for Local News.