Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a late complication of a natural measles infection.

SSPE is universally fatal about one to two years after it is diagnosed, but symptoms don’t begin until six to eight years after the person recovers from having measles.
The small risk of SSPE is just another reason that natural immunity is riskier than getting vaccinated and protected with a vaccine.
There have been at least 40 SSPE deaths since 1999.
More on SSPE and Natural Immunity from Measles
- Who Gets SSPE?
- Why Do We Include SSPE When Counting Measles Deaths?
- What is Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis?
- SSPE : A Deadly and Not-That-Rare Complication of Measles
- And another SSPE case: Angelina is dying
- sadly – another: Aliana has SSPE
- So predictable – so sad, Natalie dies of SSPE
- Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Death — Oregon, 2015
- Cruel delayed death from measles
- Measles vaccine doesn’t cause SSPE