BBC - Measles cases jump to record high

[varkam]

February 22nd, 2008
Link

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recorded 971 cases during the year - up from 740 in 2006.

The agency issued a warning last summer urging parents to get their children immunised with the MMR jab.

...

MMR immunisation rates dipped following research which raised the possibility that the jab may be linked to an increased risk of autism.

However, the research has since been debunked, and a string of studies have concluded that the triple vaccine - which protects against rubella and mumps as well as measles - is perfectly safe.

Thanks, Dr. Wakefield.

[dropkickpa]

1. Because it bears repeating

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=7

Complications
Measles usually lasts about 10 to 14 days. In some parts of the world, the disease is severe, even deadly. In Western countries, that's usually not the case. People with measles may become quite ill, but most people recover completely. However, complications may include:

Ear infection. Measles causes an ear infection in nearly one out of every 10 children.


• Encephalitis. About one in 1,000 people with measles develops encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by a viral infection, which may cause vomiting, convulsions and, rarely, coma. Encephalitis can closely follow measles, or it can occur years later during adolescence as a result of a slow virus infection. The late form, called Dawson's encephalitis, is rare.
  
  
• Pneumonia. As many as one in 15 with measles gets pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
  
  
• Diarrhea or vomiting. These complications are more common in infants and small children.
  
  
• Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup. Measles may lead to inflammation of your voice box (larynx) or inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air passageways of your lungs (bronchial tubes).
  
  
• Pregnancy problems. Pregnant women need to take special care to avoid measles, because the disease can cause miscarriage, premature labor or babies with low birth weights.
  
  
• Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Measles may lead to a decrease in platelets — the type of blood cells that are essential for blood clotting.

[kestrel91316]

2. But, but, but.............vaccines are EEEEEEEEEVIL and don't do ANY good.

And contribute to global warming!!!!!!!

:sarcasm:

[dropkickpa]

3. Mayo forgot to put blindness/corneal scarring in there

But that's too scary!!

[lizerdbits]

7. Sure glad my parents had me vaccinated 30 years ago

Good thing the intertubes didn't exist back then to try to scare her. Although she was a nurse so I doubt she would have been 'booga booga-ed' away from them and probably had classmates die or permanently damaged by diseases I was fortunate enough to be vaccinated against.

[kimmerspixelated]

4. Was the HPA

"influenced" by a drug company? Which drug company is pushing for more vaccines? If it is the same one pushing Gardisil I would be highly suspect of the numbers regarding measles outbreaks. You forget, they will do and say anything to sell more drugs.

[cosmik debris]

5. It's impossible to believe that a government agency might

be serving the public by trying to prevent epidemics.Everybody knows big pharma rules the world for profit. They make babies sick for profit. Then they make them well for profit.

:sarcasm:

You must lead a dismally paranoid life. It must really suck to be you.

[kimmerspixelated]

10. No, it doesn't actually.

But apparently you missed my point entirely, still- I will NOT insult you back!

[Warpy]

6. Yep, those scare tactics are working really well

in the UK, aren't they? More kids sick, more kids with encephalopathy, more kids brain damaged, more kids dead. Measles is not a harmless illness, nor are rubella and mumps, especially in adults.

I hope the antivax crowd are proud.

[mzmolly]

11. Indeed they are. Most people in the UK vaccinate their children.

The article contradicts itself:

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "MMR uptake has increased in recent years - now about 17 out of every 20 children have the MMR vaccine before they are two years old."

[chicagomd]

8. The legacy

of Andrew Wakefield continues.

In Paraguay they are protesting in the streets for vaccines.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-13-yellowfever_N.htm

And in this country people shun them.

Incredible.

[Heddi]

9. I knew a woman who was pregnant and got Measles

I actually knew her son better. He was very mildly retarded, completely blind, and totally deaf. He had learned to read braille and communicate in sign language. He had issues with mobility and used a wheelchair much of the time.

His mother had contracted measles when she was pregnant and that lead to these severe birth complications. She had not been immunized as a child and she was under the mistaken belief that she had gotten measles when she was young and therefore did not need the vaccine. As it turned out, she had chicken pox, but not measles.

She and her husband were friends of my grandparents through their association with The Shriners. The son was in his mid-late 20's at the time and a great person to be around. He could distinguish people via smell and touch, and would always spell my name in sign when I came in the room. He could play cards and dominoes that had braille on them. I was around 9 or 10 when I knew him and learned much about people with disabilities through my knowing him.

His mother was good friends with my mom & grandma. She begged and pleaded with them to talk to me not only about sex education, but the importance of planned pregnancy and pre-natal testing INCLUDING immunization status before pregnancy. She was relieved when my mom told her I had gotten all of my immunizations and boosters. She said that she loved her son unconditionally but felt so guilty about her contribution to his disabilities. She felt he had so much to offer to the world but was so hindered by his communication difficulties.

Of course, I do not blame her for her son's condition. She did nothing wrong and I don't think that she acted negligently before or during her pregnancy. She was in her 30's or 40's when I knew her, around 1985 or so, and I know that disease states weren't so appreciated when she was young, and I don't even know if immunizations were required for her when she was a child the way that they were when I was young, and the way they are now.

However, measles isn't just 'something' you get and get over. It has drastic effects on those who are exposed to it, especially in cases like my friend's--who was pregnant and exposed. Not only did she get measles, but her unborn child did as well, and he will suffer these effects for the rest of his life. Not only does he have the blindness and deafness, but the physiological problems associated with chromosomal retardation. He has congenital heart and lung problems and had to have several surgeries when he was a baby to repair heart and intestinal defects that are associated with his form of retardation.

This is a REAL disease with REAL implications that affect REAL people.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. Measles is a miserable disease

I'm glad that kids today don't have to have it.

[mzmolly]

12. The article contradicts itself - "MMR uptake has increased in recent years ..."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "MMR uptake has increased in recent years - now about 17 out of every 20 children have the MMR vaccine before they are two years old."

And, "Although MMR coverage is starting to improve, we know that large numbers of children are still not fully protected."

My husband had a full blown case of Measles after being vaccinated against the disease. I wonder who he gets to thank?

[chicagomd]

13. He gets to thanks

the people who don't vaccinate so infectious diseases incidence rates stay higher than necessary, thus making all of us more at risk.

[mzmolly]

14. I thought he should "thank" those who sold his parents a product that would keep him

"safe"? After all, not everyone CAN be vaccinated (this, even according to the drug companies who make vaccines.)

[dude77]

16. surprising

I thought measles wsas erradicated.

[lizerdbits]

17. Not as long as people won't get their kids vaccinated

Smallpox may be the only disease we eradicate via vaccination. There's a push for polio eradication but in some parts of Africa the western made vaccine is not trusted (will give you HIV and other myths are going around) so I don't see that working out any time soon.

[xchrom]

18. kick