What do the measles outbreaks mean for me?
Ask the doctor
I hear that there are outbreaks of measles in the United States. I think I had measles when I was young, but I'm not sure. Do I need to worry?Then, in the early 1950s, something wonderful happened, and it happened here at Harvard Medical School. Dr. John Enders and two colleagues developed a technique for growing viruses called cell culture. His invention led to the discovery of many new viruses. It allowed Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin to develop the polio vaccine, and it allowed Enders to develop a measles vaccine. Enders' curiosity-driven basic research led ultimately to the saving of tens of millions of lives and was honored with the Nobel Prize.
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