A video in the Tamil language claims that if someone has had measles infection in his lifetime, he will never be infected with the novel coronavirus. The claim is false.

By Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan

With coronavirus cases increasing in the country, social media and closed messaging groups have become an even bigger hotbed of medical misinformation for preventive measures and cures.

Among the many threads of misinformation around the coronavirus infection that is doing the rounds on the internet, this one is cleverly packaged with misleading “scientific information”. One of the videos going viral in the Tamil language says that if someone has had measles infection in his lifetime, he will never be infected with the novel coronavirus. The video is part of a web channel called “Behindwoods” and this statement is made by a Guru called Aasaanji of Atmayoga Foundation. During the interview he says, “ I am not concerned about the corona, let us assume corona is there, if you have immunity then corona can be finished. Even in the worst of summers, we had measles here. We have killed measles (with our immunity). If someone has had measles before, you will never get corona. I can give it to you in writing.”

Is it possible that having had measles before, give anyone immunity against coronavirus infection? explains Dr. Swarnendu Pal, Consultant Pathologist of Serampore Walsh Hospital, and Hooghly – “the human body has immunity for a viral infection due to the previous infection or by immunisation. Though measles and corona, i.e Covid-19 are viral infections, both are different. So there is no chance that a measles infection will prevent a Covid-19 infection.” He further clarifies that there is no case for cross-immunity for measles and Covid-19.

In short, there is definitely no guarantee that having had measles before can protect you from a coronavirus infection. The news that is doing the rounds is fake.