Vaccinations jump 500% in antivax hotspot amid measles outbreak

[workinclasszero]

“I would rather it not take an outbreak for this to happen.”

BETH MOLE - 2/7/2019, 9:45 AM

Demand for measles vaccines leapt 500 percent last month in Clark County, Washington—a hotbed for anti-vaccine sentiment that has now become the epicenter of a ferocious measles outbreak.

As of February 6, the county—which sits just north of the border from Portland, Oregon—has tallied 50 confirmed cases and 11 suspected cases of measles since January 1. The case count is rising swiftly, with figures more than doubling in just the last two weeks. On January 18, the county declared a public health emergency due to the outbreak.

Health officials have long feared an outbreak in the area, given the rampant skepticism of vaccines driven by misinformation and fear-mongering by anti-vaccine advocates. Only 76.5 percent of kindergarteners in Clark County had all the standard immunizations during the 2017-2018 school year. Overall, the county’s population is below the 92-percent to 94-percent range some experts consider necessary to curb the spread of disease.

The measles virus travels through the air and can stay up to two hours in the air of a room where a person with measles has been. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch a contaminated surface, then touch their eyes, noses or mouths, they can become infected. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/vaccinations-jump-500-in-antivax-hotspot-amid-measles-outbreak/?comments=1

[Hortensis]

1. Good. I've read the extremely contagious virus can hitchhike on a dust mote

and cruise wherever the wind might take it during its "life" span. Here in Florida, with the Atlantic on one side, Gulf on the other, and continental weather sweeping down from the north, the breezes are always blowing.

[Fresh_Start]

2. I guess we should be happy that recognition of reality could change minds

pity that doesnt seem to work in politics because people refuse to recognize reality

[CottonBear]

3. So. now, the idiot parents believe in science. Kids are dying overseas:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47153817

Authorities in the Philippines have declared an outbreak of the highly contagious measles virus in several areas including the capital, Manila.
As of 26 January there have been 1,813 measles cases and 26 deaths, according to the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau. That is a 74% increase from 2018.
Measles can be very dangerous for small children and babies.
There is now increasing concern for the 2.4 million unvaccinated children.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-47157020

Measles cases in Europe tripled between 2017 and 2018 to 82,596 - the highest number recorded this decade, data from the World Health Organization shows.
While vaccination rates are improving, the WHO says coverage is not high enough to prevent circulation of the virus in many countries.
Ukraine reported the highest number of measles cases last year - more than 10 times that of the next highest, Serbia.
Over 90% of cases were in 10 countries, including France, Italy and Greece.

[RandySF]

4. I would call it survival of the fittest

But the dodos are trying to take us down with them.