Measles outbreaks hit 18-year high in Washington state
Measles outbreaks hit 18-year high in Washington state
This thin-section transmission electron micrograph (TEM) reveals a single virus particle, or virion, of measles virus. CDC.gov
Washington state health officials reported on Thursday the highest number of measles cases since 1996 and urged residents to seek vaccinations against the preventable disease during the state's third outbreak of the virus this year.
Washington has been hit with 27 cases of measles so far in 2014, up from five last year, and more than were reported in the state during the past five years combined, said Kelly Stowe, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Health.
The outbreaks in Washington have coincided with a slight decline in the number of residents receiving a vaccination that also protects against mumps and rubella, Stowe said.
She said the state saw an epidemic of pertussis, or whooping cough, in 2012 that also coincided with a decline in the number of vaccinations being given out for that illness.
"It is concerning," she said.
Homegrown measles, whose symptoms include rash and fever, was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000.
But health officials say cases imported by travelers from overseas continue to infect unvaccinated U.S. residents, pushing infection rates across the country to two-decade highs.
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I thought Measles was a thing of the past...
I'm pretty sure there is at least one Religion that opposes vaccinations.
Will the plague make a return? I sure hope not!
LOL...
Yeah, but you can only catch that if you allow someone to fu$k with your head....and people will try to...!!
Good point!
We have the black plague here in NM. Every summer several come down with it. It can be outrageously horrible and deadly if not treated in time. Even if it is treated in time, it can leave lasting damage. We just have to be careful.
Did the doctors get you all cured up, Bf?
I had every kind of measles known to mankind, back in the day, so I made sure my son was vaccinated. I had 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day... If there was any kind of measle to hit, I got it. But I never had chicken pox...
When I was pregnant with Peep, they kept asking me, "Did you ever have Rubella?" Well, I had a cat I had named Rubella, because she had spots on her stomach... She was such a sweet-faced little girl! I could truthfully say, in every way imaginable, yes, I had had Rubella.
OH!!!! Now that's SCARY !!! And her I thought that was completely eradicated.....I must be living under a rock...
I could truthfully say, in every way imaginable, yes, I had had Rubella. You sure can Dowser!!
lol...we knew that!!
Ummmm.......check to make sure there are no fleas under that rock.
Here's what Samantha B. from the Jon Stewart show had to say about that form of idiocy :
Me, too. It's awful. And horrible.
lol...no fleas, but I did see some ICKY WORMS.....EEEEWWWWW!!
It would be funny if it weren't so horrifying at the same time ...
I had Rheumatic fever shortly thereafter and it was so much worse, I don't really remember how awful it was... UGH.
I don't really remember how awful it was... UGH. That's probably a good thing !!
Boy, when you get sick you really get sick ear Dowser! It sounds as tough you have had pretty much EVERUTHING!!
There for a while, I had just about everything. No wonder I was in 3rd grade and weighed 35 pounds...
The rheumatic fever was the worst, though.
I agree . Can't have those crazy liberals ruining it for everyone else :
I had a mild case of polio. That was outrageously painful with a high fever and hallucinations and terrors. I remember it vividly and it still effects me to this day. Thank God for the vaccine. I've never had the vaccine for polio because I had polio.
It's simple. Vaccinate your kids.
We live right in the middle of the densest part of that map. It's fairly rare, but when it shows up it can be really deadly. Just imagine - one third of Europe's population died from it. Imagine one third of the people you know dying within days or weeks of each other.
No wonder I was in 3rd grade and weighed 35 pounds...Oh Dowser...that's practically nothing! I'm glad you're over all of that stuff now!!
Back on topic, I think that if a parent doesn't want to get their child vaccinated, then they should not be allowed to have them attend public school. Let the parents home school them
Great idea!!
Oh Grump...that's awful!! I hate it when little children are so sick...
That's a scary and sad thought...