Upswing in measles outbreaks

[jimtron]

Very interesting article in the LA Times. Here's an excerpt:

The United States is on track to report its highest incidence of measles cases since 2001, exacerbated by a rise in outbreaks worldwide and by clusters of people who are opting out of the vaccine because of religious beliefs or fears of a purported link between the shot and autism, health officials said Thursday.

And this gem:

Jenny McCarthy, a former Playboy model and actress who has written about raising an autistic son, has appeared twice on "Larry King Live" since September, arguing that vaccines trigger autism. In her most recent appearance in April, McCarthy said, "This debate is over. Vaccines can trigger autism. . . . I've confirmed it."

Questioned on whether her conclusion was based on scientific or statistical evidence, McCarthy said, "I believe that parents' anecdotal information is science-based information."

TA: I just found this related, but different thread: http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107164

 

[Deetee]

You guys are just lucky you are not in Europe.

The epidemic of measles continuing over the last 2 years in Switzerland has been very concerning. It demonstrates that low vaccination rates are the engine which is driving continued spread of the infection.

In 2001-2 there were over 17 thousand cases of measles in Europe, 10 thousand of these in Germany (what is it with the Germans, huh?).
There were 27 cases of encephalitis, one case of subacute scerosing panencephalitis (SSPE, a devastating and chronic form of encephalitis) and one death (usual reported death rates are 1 in every 5-10000 cases). 1100 cases were hospitalised (presumably with complications such as pneumonia etc).

Data from Europe for 2006 showed 8213 cases, with 10 cases of encephalitis and 6 deaths. Again the vast majority of cases were in the unvaccinated.

Oh no, measles isn't harmful at all peeps!
It just helps boost and stimulate the immune system. [actually, natural measles infection reduces cell-mediated immunity substantially, one of the reasons it is so harmful as secondary infections are so common]
No-one gets ill from it nowadays in the West. Only starving, malnourished children in the Third World get complications.

Interestingly, sometimes significant outbreaks are reported in countries with high vaccination rates over 90%, such as Denmark (what is it with the Danes, huh?), and over the course of several years a pocket of susceptible individuals builds up in numbers until measles is introduced at some point, causing the unprotected population to come down with it en-masse.

 

[ddt]

In the Netherlands, fortunately, the vaccination rate is very high; not vaccinating is mainly tied to religious reasons. The government has a nice map here; if you click on the link in the text with "SGP stemmers", you'll see it offset with a map of the voters for the fundamentalist protestant party. As a result, every 5-7 years there is a measles outbreak.

When I was a kid, we used to make jokes about those fundies getting polio due to not vaccinating; at that time, polio was in the government vaccination program but measles not yet (it is since 1976).

As a personal question: is it possible resp. advisable to be vaccinated at a later age? I wasn't vaccinated as a child for measles, and I didn't have it.

 

[Deetee]

In the Netherlands, fortunately, the vaccination rate is very high; not vaccinating is mainly tied to religious reasons. The government has a nice map here; if you click on the link in the text with "SGP stemmers", you'll see it offset with a map of the voters for the fundamentalist protestant party. As a result, every 5-7 years there is a measles outbreak.

When I was a kid, we used to make jokes about those fundies getting polio due to not vaccinating; at that time, polio was in the government vaccination program but measles not yet (it is since 1976).

As a personal question: is it possible resp. advisable to be vaccinated at a later age? I wasn't vaccinated as a child for measles, and I didn't have it.

Interesting. The "SGP" are the protestant fundamentalists? What does SGP stand for?

Do you notice how the Netherlands looks like a wild boar head in profile? (most easily seen on the SGP stemmers map)

Regarding your question, I would advise having a blood test to check whether you have any measles antibody. It is possible you did have a subclinical attack and are immune. If not, look into getting the measles vaccine.

 

[ectoplasm]

The Jabbers will be using this outbreak to bolster their theory that herd immunity is a myth.

I'm sure they are all perusing maps of the outbreak so they can take their kids there and expose them to the benign wild strain, and buildup their natural immunity.

 

[ddt]

Interesting. The "SGP" are the protestant fundamentalists? What does SGP stand for?

Wiki translates it as Reformed Political Party. The translation of "political" for the Dutch word "staatkundig" is a bit lacking to my taste, but I can't find a better one.

Do you notice how the Netherlands looks like a wild boar head in profile?

Damn, I never noticed that, though I like looking at maps and through Asterix comics I've seen quite a number of boars' heads , and I still don't see it. Should I turn the map 90 deg.? Clockwise or counter-clockwise? And does the boar look to the left or the right?

Regarding your question, I would advise having a blood test to check whether you have any measles antibody. It is possible you did have a subclinical attack and are immune. If not, look into getting the measles vaccine.

OK, thanks! I'll check that out with my GP, which I'm planning on seeing soon anyways.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Turns out a bunch of kids from one family got measles here and they suspect the exposure was at a couple thousand attendee evangelical event which drew people from all over the country.

http://www.metrokc.gov/health/providers/epidemiology/health-alert-080430.htm

Who knows what that one is going to lead to. We'll know in a couple more weeks. I emailed the church asking what their position was on vaccinations, pro, con or neutral. They have yet to reply.

 

[MattusMaximus]

And this gem:

Jenny McCarthy is a stupid twat.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

The drama continues:

Possible exposure to measles on April 29, 2008

Persons who were at the following King County sites on April 29 were possibly exposed to measles:

* 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 6210 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE, Issaquah

* Noon to 4:45 p.m., Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum (EMP|SFM) (Seattle Center), 325 5th Avenue North, Seattle

* 3:45 to 6:30 p.m., McDonald's Restaurant, 1590 NW Gilman Blvd # E-2, Issaquah

Outside of King County, potential exposure occurred in the Indian John Hill Rest Area on eastbound 1-90 near Cle Elum (women’s restroom and free coffee stand), from around 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Statewide, there are now nine people with measles in recent weeks among Grant County residents. Persons becoming ill with measles as a result of being exposed on April 29 would be expected to develop symptoms between May 5 and May 19.

 

[Deetee]

Damn, I never noticed that, though I like looking at maps and through Asterix comics I've seen quite a number of boars' heads , and I still don't see it. Should I turn the map 90 deg.? Clockwise or counter-clockwise? And does the boar look to the left or the right?

Boar looking to the left in profile, head down and snout to bottom left (Sluis). The eye is in the white area right of Amsterdam/Waterland.