An anti-vaxx town in the
US is currently being gripped by the world's most infectious disease - a horror
measles outbreak that has so far killed two
children. But residents in Seminole, Texas, are standing firm on their decision to stay vaccine free, with many claiming the jabs contain "dangerous stuff" and that
big pharma have only manufactured them to make
money.
This is despite the town's most recent tragedy - the death of eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand - who is now the second child to die from an escalating measles crisis sweeping Seminole. Her devastated father, Peter Hildebrand, is convinced his daughter did not die from the killer disease. He said: "She did not die of the measles. If there's one thing you should know, it's that. She was failed." But Daisy's death was confirmed to be from measles by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The dad added: "'The [MMR] vaccine ain't worth a damn. My brother's family got it and they all still got sick — worse than my unvaccinated kids. This isn't about the vaccine." Hidlebrand believes Daisy died due to a failure in her medical care, including inadequate treatment and prejudice against the family for their Mennonite faith - a small Christian sect that favours "natural remedies" over modern medicine, MailOnline reports.
Daisy became ill around a month ago, developing a fever and a
sore throat, followed by pneumonia. After the family's home remedy of cod liver oil failed, they took Daisy to the hospital, where she was diagnosed her with strep throat, mononucleosis (a contagious viral infection) and measles. Daisy was given antibiotics and sent home, but her condition deteriorated just three days later.
She was then rushed back to the hospital with severe pneumonia and treated again, but this time, she did not survive. Daisy was the second child to die from measles after six-year-old Kayley Fehr - who also unvaccinated and part of the same Mennonite community - died just weeks earlier.