Final answer:
Once a child contracts and recovers from measles, they gain lifelong immunity, which means they are not at higher risk of contracting it again. However, low vaccination rates and international travel can lead to measles outbreaks in vulnerable communities. Vaccination is the best preventive measure to protect against and ultimately eliminate the spread of measles.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a child contracts measles, they generally develop immunity for life; however, this does not imply that they are at a higher risk of contracting measles. In fact, once a person has recovered from measles, they are typically protected from future infections due to the lifelong immunity they have acquired. It is important to note, though, that measles can be severe and even fatal. Complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and secondary infections due to immune system suppression can lead to high fatality rates, particularly among young children.
Vaccination is crucial in preventing measles and its spread. The measles vaccine triggers an adaptive immune response without sickening the immunized person, providing strong protection against future infection. However, in populations where vaccination rates are low, such as certain communities in the United States, there is a risk of measles making a strong comeback. International travel also poses a risk as it can introduce the virus into these vulnerable groups.
Therefore, wide-scale immunization is necessary to achieve herd immunity and protect children and the community from the potential resurgence of this once nearly eliminated disease.