Patient Zero Found in America's Measles Thingie

[kenny]

The problem:
Notice the increase for 2014, and it's only June.



Partial snip from below article:

In a recent article published in Pediatrics, researchers investigated a measles outbreak in Minnesota in 2011.
The authors, lead by Pamala Gahr of the Minnesota Department of Health, determined that the outbreak began when an unvaccinated 2-year-old travelled to Kenya, where he contracted the measles virus.
Upon returning to the United States, the child developed a fever, cough and vomiting, some of the early signs and symptoms of measles.

Unfortunately, prior to a diagnosis of measles, the child passed the virus on to three children in a child day-care center and another household member.
The measles then spread from individual to individual within a low vaccine uptake area, a Somali immigrant community in the Minneapolis area.
Eventually, more than 3,000 people were exposed to the disease.

The rest of the story, http://m.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/19/1308169/-One-unvaccinated-child-was-patient-zero-of-a-measles-epidemic?detail=email

 

[OreoRosies86]

Anti vaccination parents make me rage. I realize the issue is vastly complex, just putting that out there.

 

[packrat]

do you not have to be vaccinated to travel overseas?

 

[OreoRosies86]

do you not have to be vaccinated to travel overseas?

Not always, and no Kenya does not require them from direct US travelers.

 

[kenny]

do you not have to be vaccinated to travel overseas?

Each destination country can establish their own requirements based on what country the traveler is from.

What he US CDC recommends for US persons traveling abroad also varies by destination country and can be found here. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

Somalia better require US persons to be vaccinated against Measles, since the US is fast-approaching third world status.

 

[packrat]

do you not have to be vaccinated to travel overseas?

Not always, and no Kenya does not require them from direct US travelers.

I didn't realize that, thanks Elliot. It's apparently another "smart" thing to do that is left up to our own discretion, that other people pay the penalties for if it isn't done. Nice. Those numbers are just going to keep climbing. I've heard a lot of "well what's the point of getting vaccinated for something if I'm going to get it anyway?" Kinda scary, that mind set.

 

[Calliecake]

I thought I'd heard something last week about whooping cough also being on the rise.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Isn't it only a worry to people who aren't vaccinated? I have heard people complain about the anti-vacc'ers but if people are vaccinated already why are they worried about it?

 

[monarch64]

Isn't it only a worry to people who aren't vaccinated? I have heard people complain about the anti-vacc'ers but if people are vaccinated already why are they worried about it?

A lot of babies don't start being vax'd until age 8 weeks. So there is a huge concern for newborns, at least. I remember being worried when we started taking our daughter out at 9 days old. You can't sit around your house until the vaccination appointment, ya know?

 

[luv2sparkle]

That is a danger for sure. A lot of mom's can't stay home with their baby that long. But if the mom is vaccinated and nursing the baby is safe and protected.

 

[monarch64]

That is a danger for sure. A lot of mom's can't stay home with their baby that long. But if the mom is vaccinated and nursing the baby is safe and protected.

I'm not a medical expert, but "breastfeeding isn't a substitute for immunizations." http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/vaccine-protection/ Also, not every mother choose to, or is able to breastfeed her baby. So you still have plenty of babies out there who are unprotected for several weeks after birth.

 

[kenny]

Isn't it only a worry to people who aren't vaccinated? I have heard people complain about the anti-vacc'ers but if people are vaccinated already why are they worried about it?

Vaccinations may not be 100% effective.

Non-vaccers reduce heard immunity and give diseases a breading ground.

That's why this is not a freedom of choice thing.
It's a responsibility of every human.
But a few are too selfish, brainwashed or stupid to listen to science.

 

[packrat]

Being vaccinated has never been and never will be a fool proof guarantee that you will never contract the specific disease. And getting vaccinated isn't a once in a lifetime deal either-you need to have boosters after so many years, and a LOT of people don't know/understand that.

 

[AprilBaby]

I am a BIG proponent of getting vaccinated, however, since everyone my age got the measles, mumps, chicken pox ... What is the death rate and what is the big danger if a child gets one of these diseases? I don't remember anyone dying from these that I knew. Serious question, not trying to inflame an argument!

 

[amc80]

There is so much irresponsibility in this story. Not vaccinating your kids is bad enough (in my opinion). But not vaccinating your kids and then taking them to a third world country? Seriously? Stupid doesn't even begin to cover it.