Oral drug blocks measles spread in ferrets, aiding North American outbreak control

A new drug candidate fully blocked transmission of a measles-like virus in ferrets, suggesting it could help contain human measles outbreaks. The oral drug, GHP-88310, blocked both direct-contact and airborne spread, reduced symptoms, and shortened the infectious period when given before or after exposure, per a Nature Microbiology study. Measles has reemerged in North America since 2025, with thousands of U.S. cases and deaths. The researchers are preparing GHP-88310 for formal clinical testing.