<P> Measles is an endemic disease, meaning it has been continually present in a community, and many people develop resistance . In populations not exposed to measles, exposure to the new disease can be devastating . In 1529, a measles outbreak in Cuba killed two - thirds of those natives who had previously survived smallpox . Two years later, measles was responsible for the deaths of half the population of Honduras, and it had ravaged Mexico, Central America, and the Inca civilization . </P> <P> Between roughly 1855 and 2005, measles has been estimated to have killed about 200 million people worldwide . Measles killed 20 percent of Hawaii's population in the 1850s . In 1875, measles killed over 40,000 Fijians, approximately one - third of the population . In the 19th century, the disease killed 50% of the Andamanese population . Seven to eight million children are thought to have died from measles each year before the vaccine was introduced . </P> <P> In 1954, the virus causing the disease was isolated from a 13 - year - old boy from the United States, David Edmonston, and adapted and propagated on chick embryo tissue culture . To date, 21 strains of the measles virus have been identified . While at Merck, Maurice Hilleman developed the first successful vaccine . Licensed vaccines to prevent the disease became available in 1963 . An improved measles vaccine became available in 1968 . Measles as an endemic disease was eliminated from the United States in 2000, but continues to be reintroduced by international travelers . </P> <P> German anti-vaccination campaigner and HIV / AIDS denialist Stefan Lanka posed a challenge on his website in 2011, offering a sum of € 100,000 for anyone who could scientifically prove that measles is caused by a virus and determine the diameter of the virus . He posits that the illness is psychosomatic and that the measles virus does not exist . When provided with overwhelming scientific evidence from various medical studies by German physician David Bardens, Lanka did not accept the findings, forcing Bardens to appeal in court . The legal case ended with the ruling that Lanka was to pay the prize . The case received wide international coverage that prompted many to comment on it, including neurologist, well - known skeptic and science - based medicine advocate Steven Novella, who called Lanka "a crank". As multiple pieces of evidence rather than a single piece was provided, an appeal by Stefan Lanka was granted in 2016 . </P>

Where was the first case of measles found