Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Natural Hazards Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
US measles outbreak linked to low vaccine rate
Topic Started: 17 Mar 2015, 12:53 AM (26 Views)
skibboy
Member Avatar

16 March 2015

US measles outbreak linked to low vaccine rate

Posted Image
© Getty/AFP/File | A measles outbreak that began at a Disney theme park in California was able to spread because not enough children are vaccinated, as seen here a bottle of measles vaccination

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A measles outbreak in the United States that began at a Disney theme park in California was able to spread because not enough children are being vaccinated, US researchers said Monday.

As few as 50 to 86 percent of kids were vaccinated against measles in the areas of California, Arizona and Illinois where cases clustered, far below the 96 to 99 percent needed to create what is known by researchers as "herd immunity."

The study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics is the "first to positively link measles vaccination rates and the ongoing outbreak," the authors from Boston Children's Hospital said.

A total of 142 people from seven states have come down with measles in the outbreak that began December 28, 2014, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

"The fundamental reason why we're seeing the number of cases we are is inadequate vaccine coverage among the exposed," said John Brownstein of the Boston Children's Informatics Program.

Brownstein is a digital epidemiologist and co-founder of HealthMap and VaccineFinder, an online service that helps connect people with locations offering vaccinations, such as the MMR vaccine that protects against measles.

"Our data tell us a very straightforward story -- that the way to stop this and future measles outbreaks is through vaccination," he added.

"We hope these data encourage families to ensure they and their loved ones are vaccinated."

Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes a rash and fever, and can lead to complications ranging from brain damage to hearing loss and blindness, or, in rare cases, even death.

Source: Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
skibboy
Member Avatar

17 April 2015

California declares end to measles outbreak

Posted Image
© AFP/File | The recent measles outbreak in California began at a Disney theme park, and researchers have said it was able to spread because not enough children were being vaccinated

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Public health authorities in California announced Friday the end of a measles outbreak that has struck at least 131 people since it was declared in December.

No new measles cases have been reported for two 21-day incubation periods, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said in a statement.

"We are pleased this outbreak is over," said CDPH director Karen Smith, who nevertheless warned that it could reappear in the state at any time.

"The best defense for protection against the highly infectious measles is vaccination," she said.

The outbreak began at a Disney theme park, and researchers have said it was able to spread because not enough children were being vaccinated.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes a rash and fever, and can lead to complications ranging from brain damage to hearing loss and blindness.

In rare cases, it can result in death.

Nationwide, 159 cases of measles have been reported since January 1 in 18 states and the District of Columbia, the federal Centers for Disease Control says.

Besides California, the hardest hit states have been Illinois, Washington, Nevada and Arizona, according to data on the CDC website.

While not endemic to California, the CDPH said measles can circulate "when a contagious, infected person enters the state and exposes others."

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are more than 97 effective in preventing measles, it said.

But many parents have refused to let their children be vaccinated, fearing a link between MMR and autism -- a link that experts have discredited.

Source: Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Disease · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Skin by OverTheBelow