Measles is one of the most infective viruses afflicting humans. Outbreaks were formerly kept in check by the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, given in childhood. This was a situation where 'herd immunity' occurred, benefiting the entire population. A combination of Covid19-induced delays in routine vaccinations and rampant vaccine misinformation has now allowed measles to take hold again in a number of locations. For example, measles cases doubled in Europe in 2024 (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/13/wake-up-call-measles-cases-doubled-europe-last-year-who-unicef).Things may be becoming even more problematic in the USA. Their health honcho, Robert F. Kennedy junior, suggests treating with vitamin A and providing good nutrition (beneficial actions, in themselves) will prevent measles infections (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/rfk-jr-vitamins-measles-outbreak). A cognate measles virus might 'think' (they don't), Kennedy's just trying to prepare a viral paradise in humans. Humans, with their numbers and their jet-setting lifestyles, are excellent hosts for any infective micro-organism. For example, the US Center for Disease and Prevention is expecting the measles outbreak in West Texas (Gaines County) to spread. It's already killed 2 people (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/texas-measles-outbreak-spread). There's also been 250 measles cases in Pennsylvania, California and Oklahoma, with a further 2 deaths (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/13/measles-outbreak-spread). Andrew Wakefield's, much debunked claim of a link between MMR vaccine treatment and autism, still seems to hold sway in some circles. Perhaps this is because there are always risks (intended to be tiny) associated with any medical treatment (the side-effects are listed in the notes with your medication). For some parents of small children, the 'sin of commission' (getting their child vaccinated ), outweighs the 'sin of omission' (not getting their child vaccinated). In the former, you might be blamed or blame yourself if your child gets (or seems to get) an adverse reaction. In the latter, the child is unprotected from infection and 'herd immunity' breaks down. You , however, didn't directly do anything to your child. I remember the UK 'infection parties' in working class areas in the 1950s. Parents with infected kids would invite their neighbours with children to 'bring them round'. The idea, in these pre-MMR days, was to get the inevitable infections 'over and done with'.
No comments:
Post a Comment