How “completely avoidable” measles cases continue to climb – 4 new suspected cases in Washington state – “This is a public health problem for which science has already provided a solution”
By Lauran Neergaard
27 February 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. has counted more measles cases in the first two months of this year than in all of 2017 — and part of the rising threat is misinformation that makes some parents balk at a crucial vaccine, federal health officials told Congress Wednesday.
Yet the vaccine is hugely effective and very safe — so the rise of measles cases “is really unacceptable,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.
The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, which means it was not being spread domestically. But cases have been rising in recent years, and 2019 is shaping up to be a bad one.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers at the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing bemoaned what’s called “vaccine hesitancy,” meaning when people refuse or delay vaccinations.
“These outbreaks are tragic since they’re completely avoidable,” said Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky.
“This is a public health problem for which science has already provided a solution,” agreed Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J.
Here are some questions and answers about measles:
Q: How dangerous is measles?
A: Measles typically begins with a high fever, and several days later a characteristic rash appears on the face and then spreads over the body. Among serious complications, 1 in 20 patients get pneumonia, and 1 in 1,000 get brain swelling that can lead to seizures, deafness or intellectual disability.
While it’s rare in the U.S., 1 or 2 of every 1,000 children who get measles dies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [more]
How ‘completely avoidable’ measles cases continue to climb
VANCOUVER, Washington, 28 February 2019 (AP) – Officials say four new suspected measles cases have been identified in a measles outbreak in southwest Washington.
Clark County Public Health officials said Thursday that four people are suspected to have the highly contagious viral illness.
Since the beginning of the year, Clark County has seen 65 people with confirmed cases of the measles around the Vancouver area.
Most are young children under age 10 who were not vaccinated.
Multnomah County which is home to Portland, Oregon, has identified four people with measles and one who could have measles. One man in King County, which is home to Seattle, also had measles. [more]
