A 14-year-old girl in the United States required life support after developing severe complications from measles, despite having been vaccinated against the disease. The teenager, who has an underlying autoimmune disorder, contracted the virus earlier this year and experienced rapid deterioration in her condition, prompting emergency medical intervention.
Makayla Skjerva, a 14-year-old from Cavalier, North Dakota, was diagnosed with measles in February 2026. She had previously received the recommended measles vaccination. However, Makayla lives with autoimmune encephalitis, a neurological condition that affects the immune system and can reduce the body’s ability to respond effectively to infections and vaccines.
Makayla first experienced symptoms such as fever, body pain, neck discomfort, and a rash after attending school. Her family later learned that a measles exposure had occurred at the school gym. Shortly after, medical testing confirmed that she had contracted measles.
Her health declined quickly. She developed severe breathing difficulties and was admitted to hospital when her oxygen levels dropped significantly. Doctors later identified several infections occurring at the same time, including measles, pneumonia, COVID-19, and Haemophilus influenzae infection.
Due to the seriousness of her condition, she was placed on life support and transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Minneapolis for advanced treatment.
The illness began in February 2026 in Cavalier, a city in the US state of North Dakota. Makayla initially received treatment at a local hospital before being transferred to a specialized medical center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
After several weeks of intensive care and medical treatment, her condition stabilized. She was later moved to a hospital closer to her home before being discharged on March 6, 2026. Her recovery continues, and she is expected to resume school remotely during the rehabilitation period.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms usually include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic skin rash. In some patients, the infection can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, or respiratory failure.
Vaccination is the most effective strategy for preventing measles infection. However, people with compromised immune systems may not develop sufficient immunity after vaccination. As a result, they can still become infected if exposed to the virus.1
The teenager’s illness occurred during a period of rising measles cases in the United States. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,362 cases of the highly contagious disease have already been recorded in the country this year. In comparison, 2,281 measles cases were reported throughout the entire previous year, affecting individuals across 45 states. By contrast, 2024 saw 285 confirmed cases, which is far lower than the number documented within just the first few months of the current year.2
The CDC recommends two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to provide strong protection against these infections. However, growing hesitancy toward vaccines in some communities has resulted in fewer children receiving recommended immunizations. As vaccination coverage declines, some populations fall below the threshold required for herd immunity, increasing the likelihood of measles outbreaks.3
Public health authorities continue to stress the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage and rapid detection of outbreaks. These measures help limit transmission and protect people who face higher medical risks from infectious diseases.
References
1. Kaplan, Lawrence J., Robert S. Daum, Michael Smaron, and Catherine A. McCarthy. “Severe Measles in Immunocompromised Patients.” JAMA 267, no. 9 (1992): 1237–1241. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1992.03480090085032.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Measles Cases and Outbreaks: Data and Research.” Last modified January 14, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Measles Vaccination.” Last modified January 17, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html.
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