Vaccine Denial: Measles Is Back, US Pockets, Highly Infectious: Phila., Ga. 5th State To Report

[appalachiablue]

- Vaccine Denial: Measles Is Back - Hospitalizations, Encephalitis and Deaths Expected To Rise, Daily Kos, Jan. 20, 2024. ABC News (330 Recs, 173 Comments).

Measles Returns

On Thursday, ABC News reported a story with the headline, ‘Measles outbreaks are occurring in some pockets of the US. Here's why doctors are concerned.’ A subheading added ‘A recent outbreak in Philadelphia has infected eight people so far.’

The Daily Mail was more sensational (of course). It reported the increase in cases with the headline, “Is America facing its biggest measles outbreak in years? Georgia becomes fifth state to report cases already this year and FDA warns anti-vax movement will kill thousands.” Skeptics of the Daily Mail (a reasonable position) should note that the story relies on information from the Journal of the American Medical Association and the State of Georgia.

Doctors are concerned because measles is highly infectious, and complications are relatively common — some mild, such as diarrhea. Others are serious, for example, pneumonia, croup, ear infections, bronchitis, brain inflammation, and corneal scarring. Worst of all, 1 in about 600 unvaccinated infants will suffer subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is progressive and lethal. Once infected, the victim just has to ride it out — while medicine can ease the symptoms, there is no cure. It does not have to be this way.

Medical dumbassery and shameless politicians

In 2000, the CDC declared that vaccination had eliminated measles in the US. But the medical experts were over-confident. They failed to account for human nature and the craven opportunism of some politicians, who make political hay with science denial including vaccine skepticism. This shameless irresponsibility raises the question: Why do some Americans rely on politicians for medical advice? I do not know. This self-harming behavior is not entirely due to stupidity. Some higher IQ people deny science. And many Americans with less than average smarts have the brains to trust their doctors...
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/1/20/2218390/-Vaccine-denial-Measles-is-back-hospitalizations-encephalitis-and-deaths-expected-to-rise

[SharonAnn]

1. And when they infect pregnant women, there can be terrible damage to the fetus.

[appalachiablue]

2. Yes, very serious, thanks for mentioning.