Massive New U.S. Measles Outbreak Blamed On Vaccination-Refusers
(Pictured)Measles in the eye. (Inset) Measles on body.
I have a perspective on this: Many of you know my wife and I own and operate a state certified daycare (no, the kids don’t know anything about Bash, LOL) but one of the requirements of being able to have your kid get into our facility is that they need immunization records.
It is shocking how many people refuse to have their children vaccinated. Much is blamed on a not-proven autism/measles vaccination (mmr) connection. I don’t know if they are connected or not, but I have heard some hellacious anecdotal evidence. Nevertheless, our kids have been vaccinated.
My wife and I, and our pediatrician, agreed that the benefits of the vaccination outweighed the risks. Many people do not feel that way, and they are now saying that this outbreak of Measles in the 15 states is mostly people who were never immunized against it.
A measles outbreak has sickened more than 120 people in 15 states – making it the biggest outbreak in the U.S. in more than 10 years, Reuters is reporting.
According to federal health officials, most of the victims were not vaccinated against the highly contagious virus.
In a statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak has been traced to travelers who became sick overseas, returned to the U.S. and infected others.
The news comes on the heels of public health officials stressing the importance of immunizing children.
“What concerns me is the trend of more and more people not vaccinating their children because of fears that vaccines cause autism — although no studies have proven this to be true, Dr. Joseph Rahimian, an infectious disease specialist at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, told FOXNews.com in May.
Last month, British health officials said measles had again become an epidemic in that country for the first time since the mid-1990s due to parents not getting their kids vaccinated.
“The primary reason for lack of vaccination is personal belief exemptions,” the CDC’s Dr. Larry Pickering told a news conference.
“Until better global control is achieved, cases will continue to be imported into the United States and outbreaks will persist as long as there are communities of unvaccinated people,” Pickering said.
Measles is caused by a virus that normally grows in cells that line the back of the throat and the lungs.
“It’s actually one of the most communicable infectious diseases in the world,” Rahimian said.
Typical symptoms include:
— Coughing
— Runny nose
— High Fever
— Rash (which usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body)
About 1 in 5 measles sufferers experiences more severe illness, which can include diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, chronic neurological deficits and even death.
The virus also remains a leading cause of death among children in poor countries, killing about 250,000 people a year globally.
Details of the outbreak first surfaced in May when more than 70 people came down with the virus in nearly a dozen states.
States with cases now include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington state, as well as Washington, D.C., according to the CDC.
This latest outbreak comes eight years after the virus was declared practically dead in the U.S., thanks to a vaccination program that began in the 1960s.
(Fox)
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I took my child to get her vaccinations caught up and she had to get 4 shots that day. Quite a trooper. I asked the Dr. what the story was on the risk. He flat out told me the “risk” of not taking the vaccines was insane. There is no comparison, contrary to what people like Jenny McCarthy think they know. Bunch of Luddites, sort of like global warming kooks and radical environmentalists.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:31 amThere are over 6 billion people on this planet, more than at any other time in the history of mankind. There are two fundamental reasons why: 1) modern farming techniques that produce enough food to feed everyone, and 2) childhood immunizations that have halted diseases that used to kill people off wholesale. 100 years ago you would be fairly certain to lose a child from disease before they were 18. Now that rarely happens, at least in the first world.
‘Nuff said.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:37 amHad measles and mumps as a kid in the mid-late 1960s … Wouldn’t wish that on my kids …
NOT so sold on the chicken pox vaccine, however. I still refuse it for Lizzie Rose … and HOPE she gets the damn chicken pox soon …
July 10th, 2008 at 10:11 amDrill: Dr. (who wasn’t exactly a fire-breather) said the only vaccine that had “risk rumors” attached to it was MMR, not chicken pox(varicella). Also, people that get chickenpox naturally have higher risk of getting shingles. Tell me, I get them some times. So…don’t know why anyone is scared of it.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:30 amAs a parent with an autistic child I still feel vaccination was and is neccessary. I do wish they would figure out what the heck is causing so many more cases of this dissorder.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:37 amYeah, there are some people who chose not to immunize their kids, but what about the huge numbers of children of illegal immigrants who come here or are born here as anchor babies.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:56 amLook at the increased cases of TB, both multi-drug resistant and otherwise. I wouldn’t be surprised if these cases followed the same pattern state-wise.
we havent had children yet, but i know that im not going to vaccinate my kids. vaccines dont work, they may provide a temporary immunity but that is about it. i can explain more and also explain why they dont work. but would you really listen to me?? i highly doubt you would.
as for the outbrake of the measles that is occuring. it is my understanding that a majority of those infected actually had the mmr vaccine previously in their life.
i encourage you to do some research on the subject and actually get and understanding of what actually is in the vaccine, and how administering it actually bypasses the bodies immune system and its ability to go through the natural immune process that it normally would when infected with a pathogen.
i dont have the time to explain this all to any of you. but i tell all my patients to not believe a word i say, but rather put it to the test and see if im wrong. Acts 17:11. if you do have any questions about this feel free to email me and i would love to have a civil discussion with anyone.
in8chro@yahoo.com
July 10th, 2008 at 11:36 amYeah, there are some people who chose not to immunize their kids, but what about the huge numbers of children of illegal immigrants who come here or are born here as anchor babies.
Look at the increased cases of TB, both multi-drug resistant and otherwise. I wouldn’t be surprised if these cases followed the same pattern state-wise.
Absolutely. Here in AZ, we had a rollover van on the I-10 [between Tucson and Phoenix] a few months back with about 7 illegals inside. Half of them were sick, enough to be hospitalized. They had chickenpox, not measles, but the point is illegal immigration is as much of a public health threat as a national security threat.
Last time I had the measles I was 21. Sickest I’d been in a long time.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:52 amIt is NOT any vaccine risk of the cx pox vaccine … It is the fact that the vaccine ‘delays’ the disease … and the older the child, the more dangerous cx pox are … It can be deadly for adults. Measles are measles … bad at whatever age (my youngest sister was a newborn when the three of us got them) … I know 3 kids my daughter’s age and a little older that had the pox vaccine … and have gotten shingles … one of them, my niece, has had shigles 3x since the vaccine.
You’d better check into the stats on the former Soviet Union and the new generation and the young not long after the fall of the USSR, and the country’s inability to distribute vaccines to the general public after the fall …
These diseases sky-rocketed over there … Didn’t hear that in our news?
Are you really surprised?
I’m NOT a doc, but I do know that the vaccine doesn’t completely eradicate a disease, but removes it from circulation in the population … Perhaps some of these kids did have MMRs, but maybe they either didn’t complete the vaccine schedule, or needed a booster.
I DO come from a family of doctors and nurses, and they ALL swear by baby/child vaccines …
July 10th, 2008 at 12:21 pmVery good point. Third World illegals with no immunizations are swarming into California, threatening non-immunized legal populations that once could be considered relatively safe because most Americans around them were immunized. We’re also seeing diseases now that you’d think were only in biblical times such as leprosy. And don’t even get me started on the multi-drug resistant TB strains coming out of third world populations for which there is no known cure but highly contagious.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pmdid you ever stop to think that after the fall of the soviet union there were far more problems with mal-nutrition and lack of proper sanitation than vaccines? those are most likely your biggest factors in causing disease. MD’s and nurses are indoctrinated with the belief in vaccines. non of them ever question its validity. if you would like further knowledge on the subject look into Pastuer and Beachamp and see what happened with them and how they delt with disease.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:37 pmdid you ever stop to think that after the fall of the soviet union there were far more problems with mal-nutrition and lack of proper sanitation than vaccines? those are most likely your biggest factors in causing disease.
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Why is it when a relief agency goes into a third world country, or a major natural disaster area the VERY first thing that is done … vaccines are provided to the population?
Let me guess …
You also do not believe in antibiotics or drugs such as Tylenol or Advil …
You MIGHT be a chiropractor …
July 10th, 2008 at 1:25 pmDR?Brian?
Are you a medical doctor? Because you don’t spell very well. *outbrake*??? *delt*???
Come on, I’m dyin’ here.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pmYep, drillanwr, the good *doctor* is ready to throw the germ theory right out the window along with the baby and the bathwater!
I say he’s a podiatrist.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pmOr a doctot of optometry.
Yep, drillanwr, the good *doctor* is ready to throw the germ theory right out the window along with the baby and the bathwater!
I say he’s a podiatrist.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pmOr a doctor of optometry.
I have a younger sister who is a podiatrist … Swears by the vaccines.
Her ex-husband was a chiropractor … HE did not believe in the vaccines or any other drugs known to man … Until he came down with a very nasty case of hepatitis-A while on a trip to Mexico … Then he was screaming for drugs.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:42 pmWell, I was just
at myself, since I spelled doctor *doctot* right after giving the guy grief about spelling.
Never fails - God’s tapping me on the shoulder and telling me to dismount - the horse is too high.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pmMethinks the good “doctor” is a quack. I believe I might change my name to Doc Quincy - probably have as many credentials
July 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm