Anti-vaccine idiocy leads to NYC measles outbreak

New York City is currently grappling with a measles outbreak. Health officials have identified 16 cases of the highly contagious infectious disease, resulting in at least six hospitalizations, and are now warning unvaccinated individuals that they need to get their shots.

And New York isn’t the only place where measles — which was once so rare that it was virtually eradicated in the U.S. back in 2000 — is cropping up again. Within the past two months, health officials have also identified cases in the Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Dallas areas. Measles have also recently been reported in suburban areas in Connecticut and Illinois.

Just one case of measles can pose a huge public health threat, since it has the potential to be transmitted quickly. It can spread through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. For instance, last month, thousands of California commuters were potentially exposed to the disease after an unvaccinated man with the measles rode public transportation.
Many of the measles outbreaks here in the U.S. originate after an unvaccinated individual has traveled abroad and contracted the disease there.

Then, when they return to this country, they can spread measles among pockets of other unvaccinated people. This isn’t an issue if most people simply get the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. That’s why San Francisco didn’t experience a larger outbreak after the recent public transportation scare there — the rates of MMR vaccination in that city are high.

But, thanks to ongoing anti-vaccine propaganda, that’s not necessarily the case everywhere. An increasing number of parents are choosing to forgo their kids’ MMR shot based on scientifically inaccurate claims that it can lead to autism. The actress and model Jenny McCarthy, who’s a prominent anti-vaccine activist, has a lot to do with that. By 2008, about one in four adults reported they were familiar with McCarthy’s views about vaccines, and 40 percent of them said her claims led them to question vaccine safety. This issue hasn’t died down since then; just this week, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his wife, former reality TV star Kristin Cavallari, said they won’t vaccinate their kids over fears about autism.

victorismyhero wrote:I suggest that the govt does NOTHING...and lets "darwin" take care of the idiots....

Ben_Reilly wrote:

victorismyhero wrote:I suggest that the govt does NOTHING...and lets "darwin" take care of the idiots....

It's not the idiots who are falling victim to this, though, it's their kids.

eddie wrote:The trouble is, doctors want to stick so much shit via vaccinations into our babies that some parents are refusing everything. I can half understand it actually.

The MMR should be given as three single vaccines instead of lumped together, as that is the problem most parents face - they don't want a triple vaccine.

I think it's some Eastern European countries that aren't vaccinating. I'm sure I read that's why TB is on the rise..?

NemsAgain wrote:

eddie wrote:The trouble is, doctors want to stick so much shit via vaccinations into our babies that some parents are refusing everything. I can half understand it actually.

The MMR should be given as three single vaccines instead of lumped together, as that is the problem most parents face - they don't want a triple vaccine.

I think it's some Eastern European countries that aren't vaccinating. I'm sure I read that's why TB is on the rise..?

Yup we had a measles outbreak last year. TB is on the increase and Alder Hey are seeing kids with rickets

jaded fox wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

victorismyhero wrote:I suggest that the govt does NOTHING...and lets "darwin" take care of the idiots....

It's not the idiots who are falling victim to this, though, it's their kids.

I wonder how many of these anti vaccine guys did have their vaccinations.

Original Quill wrote:Who needs a needle?  You get measles, you get better...you are immunized.  

Sassy wrote:Polio, known medically as poliomyelitis, was one of the most feared diseases of the 20th century. Every year, polio crippled an average of 35,000 Americans (http://www.vaccines.com/polio-ipv-vaccine-information.cfm) and now it doesn't.   Very natural   

eddie wrote:The trouble is, doctors want to stick so much shit via vaccinations into our babies that some parents are refusing everything. I can half understand it actually.

The MMR should be given as three single vaccines instead of lumped together, as that is the problem most parents face - they don't want a triple vaccine.

I think it's some Eastern European countries that aren't vaccinating. I'm sure I read that's why TB is on the rise..?

Sassy wrote:Rickets is caused by Vitamin D deficiency and many children now don't play outside enough, as well as not getting enough eggs and oily fish.   Some bread and cereals have it added, but endocrinologists think that a very large number of people are Vitamin D deficient.   I was very low when they tested and I have a good diet, and it's known that low vit D doesn't help CLL, so I have it every day.

BTW Eddie, doesn't matter who comes in, there will only be a measles outbreak if children haven't had the jab, but I share your view about them not being all lumped together.

Same goes for TB, whoever comes here, people should have been vaccinated against it.   My Mum had it badly when I was 8/9 and was in a sanatorium for over 2 years, it was only because of the new drugs they brought out just after she got it that she survived.

Sassy wrote:Yep, it's finding the right balance.  

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:The trouble is, doctors want to stick so much shit via vaccinations into our babies that some parents are refusing everything. I can half understand it actually.

The MMR should be given as three single vaccines instead of lumped together, as that is the problem most parents face - they don't want a triple vaccine.

I think it's some Eastern European countries that aren't vaccinating. I'm sure I read that's why TB is on the rise..?

Yes, they should offer it as separate vaccinations IMO. I'm not surprised some parents don't want their kids to have the MMR.

Sassy wrote:I have to have it every year because of my crap immune system and every year my arm comes up like a side of pork and goes bright red and I get flu symptoms, but it's better than getting the flu as that could kill me.

Sassy wrote:I have to have it every year because of my crap immune system and every year my arm comes up like a side of pork and goes bright red and I get flu symptoms, but it's better than getting the flu as that could kill me.

eddie wrote:

Sassy wrote:I have to have it every year because of my crap immune system and every year my arm comes up like a side of pork and goes bright red and I get flu symptoms, but it's better than getting the flu as that could kill me.

Yes for you that's fine and good sass.
But a two year old?
I refused it when I was pregnant. I drank freshly squeezed veg and fruit juices daily and exercised when I could. I didn't need a flu jab IMO