From black measles to breakthroughs: why science matters

by Nick Weber, PhD,  scientist at the Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain 

In the early 1900s, the Bitterroot Valley experienced waves of measles outbreaks. This was not the same measles (rubeola) that has caused outbreaks in the southwest United States this year, but a different disease entirely, referred to as “black measles”. Black measles preyed on children and adults alike with a mortality rate around 80%. However, unlike in the current measles virus epidemic, there was no vaccine to protect these early Montanans.

In these early days of black measles, lacking any clear reference for the disease, fear, confusion and distrust permeated the population. Some people insisted that the disease arose from drinking snowmelt from certain canyons on the west side of the valley, since cases were only found on the west side of the Bitterroot River. Herbal poultices were applied to rashes on infected individuals. Sulphur or arsenic compounds were ingested as a supposed form of prophylaxis. But none of these measures stopped the disease.

Dr. Howard Ricketts arrived in the valley to investigate the cause of the black measles. In 1906, he identified the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii (named in his honor) as the causative agent and showed that it was transmitted by the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Based on these discoveries, efforts were refocused to preventing the transmission of the disease. Drs. Roscoe Spencer and Ralph Parker developed a vaccine against Rickettsia rickettsii in the 1920s. The valley began to institute mandatory tick inspections for all workers. Nowadays, anyone who spends time outdoors in the Bitterroot Valley knows about the importance of thorough tick inspections. The rate of mortality from Rocky Mountain spotted fever has dropped from nearly 80% to under 5% today.

The history of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a story that has been repeated innumerable times throughout the history of modern medicine. An unknown malady appears, infecting and terrorizing the population. Through years of arduous work, researchers identify the cause of the disease and find ways to prevent and contain it. Because of this work, fewer people get sick, and more people who are infected survive, a testament to the scientific process.

And it’s not just infectious disease. Scientific research also tackles more insidious, chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and cancer. The American research establishment—an interconnected network of universities, research institutions, government agencies, and private companies—is one of the greatest achievements in the history of civilization. It is something that the rest of the world admires and strives to emulate.

But now, changes in the priorities of the federal government take aim at the American scientific system. Congress is considering drastic cuts to the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and multiple centers of higher education, which train scientists like Dr. Ricketts. The administration is limiting universities’ abilities to enroll foreign students, who play a huge role in carrying out indispensable research. These actions are decimating the American scientific establishment as we know it. It will take decades to recover from these setbacks, if recovery is even possible.

These cuts to science would also impact communities in Montana. Ninety-seven years ago, driven by the success of research into Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the government established the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton. This center has produced myriad accomplishments: researchers helped discover the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, improved the vaccine for yellow fever that saved the lives of U.S. soldiers during WWII, and advanced research in acellular pertussis (whooping cough) ultimately leading to a vaccine, and more recently, it has led research on Ebola and COVID-19. What’s more, RML has been a pillar of the community, supporting 1,500 jobs and generating $89 million after-tax household income and $232 million in annual business revenue. For every person employed at RML, two additional full-time jobs are supported elsewhere in the community. Just as importantly, RML researchers and their families contribute to the vibrancy of the Bitterroot Valley by supporting local schools, volunteering, and enriching cultural and intellectual life within the community. The proposed cuts to the NIH will affect the Bitterroot Valley in myriad ways, including in the loss of jobs it will inevitably cause, but most depressingly in that it perpetuates the idea that we as a country do not cherish and support science as a force for good in today’s America.

I grew up in Hamilton, where I received my first exposure to science from committed, motivational teachers in our public schools. I continued my training in biology at U of M and as a summer intern at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, followed by postdoctoral research at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. I have dedicated my career to researching and developing a novel type of treatment for rare diseases called gene therapy, focusing primarily on diseases that affect young children, with no current treatments. Throughout myriad moments of frustration—including confounding results, roadblocks in developing treatments, unruly mice, and distractible predoctoral students—I can always stay grounded and motivated when I revisit the stories of the children and families who are affected by these diseases.

For me, as well as for my fellow scientists who harbor a passion for carrying out science as a means to get to the truth, and especially for all those affected by threats to our health, please consider demonstrating your support for the importance of prioritizing science and the research community, both locally and nationally.