Week 3 Discussion Measles Outbreak
WHO (2015, February) defines measles as “a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus”. The virus that causes measles is part of the paramyxovirus family. This virus is airborne and can spread through direct person to person contact. First, the virus infects the mucus membranes, then it continues by spreading to the rest of the body.
So far in 2015, the CDC reported that “166 people from 19 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles…Most of these cases [117 cases (70%)] are part of a large multi-state outbreak linked to an amusement park in California.” The CDC suspects that a patron that visited the amusement park most likely traveled out of seas before the visit. They also stated that the virus type for the measles outbreak in the US is similar to the large measles outbreak in the Philippines that occurred the year before. This same virus type has also been identified in 14 other countries within the last six months.
Additionally, the CDC reported that most of the people that were infected by the measles outbreak were unvaccinated. “The increase in cases in 2008 was the result of spread in communities with groups of unvaccinated people. The U.S. experienced several outbreaks in 2008 including three large outbreaks” (CDC, 2015). This has been an ongoing debate among US citizens the last few years. Ever since the anti-vaccination movement began, more people are reported to choose not to vaccinate their child. However, their choice affects others; those who are too young to get certain vaccinations, or even those who already have been vaccinated are still susceptible to the exposure. Since then, the US has had outbreaks of measles almost every year.
The vaccination for measles are given with mumps and rubella. “MMR is a two-shot series of vaccines usually given during childhood. A child should receive the first shot when he is between 12-15 months, and the second when he 's between 4-6 years of age” (WebMD).
References
Measles.
So far in 2015, the CDC reported that “166 people from 19 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles…Most of these cases [117 cases (70%)] are part of a large multi-state outbreak linked to an amusement park in California.” The CDC suspects that a patron that visited the amusement park most likely traveled out of seas before the visit. They also stated that the virus type for the measles outbreak in the US is similar to the large measles outbreak in the Philippines that occurred the year before. This same virus type has also been identified in 14 other countries within the last six months.
Additionally, the CDC reported that most of the people that were infected by the measles outbreak were unvaccinated. “The increase in cases in 2008 was the result of spread in communities with groups of unvaccinated people. The U.S. experienced several outbreaks in 2008 including three large outbreaks” (CDC, 2015). This has been an ongoing debate among US citizens the last few years. Ever since the anti-vaccination movement began, more people are reported to choose not to vaccinate their child. However, their choice affects others; those who are too young to get certain vaccinations, or even those who already have been vaccinated are still susceptible to the exposure. Since then, the US has had outbreaks of measles almost every year.
The vaccination for measles are given with mumps and rubella. “MMR is a two-shot series of vaccines usually given during childhood. A child should receive the first shot when he is between 12-15 months, and the second when he 's between 4-6 years of age” (WebMD).
References
Measles.
References: Measles. (2015, February). World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/ Measles Cases and Outbreaks. (2015). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine. WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine U.S. Multi-state Measles Outbreak 2014-2015. (2015). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/measles/multi-state-outbreak.html Thanks for your research and information on mumps. I’m glad that they are able to combine mumps, measles, and rubella together into one vaccine. Each person already goes through at least 30 separate doses of different vaccines (some doses are part of the same series). If the MMR were to given separately, that would be two more shots! I’m just glad that in modern day, we have the research, and capability to make these vaccinations available. Only if all of the people are willing to participate to get vaccinated, and to get their children vaccinated, then these outbreaks would happen less. Thanks for that informative post. I just don’t understand why there are so many people that are participating in the anti-vaccination movement. Not only are they putting themselves and their children in danger, they are putting other adults and children in danger too. The most irresponsible people are the ones that know about the pros of the vaccinations and still choose to ignore it. I feel that most of the people part of the anti-vaccination movement do not completely understand the whole process and reasons behind vaccinations. These people really need to be educated in the sense of what the vaccinations actually do to help and what contributes to the development of the vaccinations.