Dr. Berglund Comments on this article:
Let me get this straight. So the CDC has tallied the number of measles outbreak in 2011 and the number is 156. Eighty-five percent were apparently contracted from outside the US. 17% of those who were infected were vaccinated. I’m sure one the of the points of the study was “See? We need to get people vaccinated.”
Here is my thought. Spending time and energy on this is like a man coming to the doctor complaining of acne when half his leg was ripped off and is bleeding from a chainsaw accident. I realize that in Third World countries malnourished children are dying of measles. But they aren’t in this country. We need to teach parents how to help their kids eat properly and get their immune systems improved so we lower their risk of dying from measles. The kids will get measles, get natural immunity and never get it again. This would be a better use of money and time. We have somewhere between 100,000 and 700,000 (depending on whose numbers you look at DYING of preventable iatrogenic causes (that means CAUSED by doctors and hospitals). I’m not really sure why we’re this concerned with the number of unvaccinated people (when it’s very likely the vaccinations are harming people) when people are bleeding to death through their gastrointestinal tracts because we gave them anti-inflammatory meds without proper followup (the number 1 iatrogenic cause of death) or give multiple drugs to the same patient that we know produce fatal adverse reactions.
Maybe I should just shut up and drink the Kool Aid.
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High Number of Measles Cases Reported in US, CDC Says
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/745167?src=mpnews&spon=34
Mark Crane
Information from Industry
What bacteria are commonly identified as causing pneumonia in the U.S.?
The bacterial causes are discussed here
June 23, 2011 — The United States is experiencing the highest reported number of measles cases since 1996, most of which were acquired during international travel, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an advisory sent to healthcare professionals yesterday.
From January 1 through June 17 this year, 156 confirmed cases of measles were reported to the CDC. Most cases (136) were associated with importations from measles-endemic countries or countries in which large outbreaks are occurring. The imported cases involved unvaccinated US residents who recently traveled abroad, unvaccinated visitors to the United States, and people linked to these imported cases.
To date, 12 outbreaks (3 or more linked cases) have occurred, accounting for 47% of the 156 cases. Of the total case-patients, 133 (85%) were unvaccinated or had undocumented vaccination status. Of the 139 case-patients who were US residents, 86 (62%) were unvaccinated, 30 (22%) had undocumented vaccination status, 11 (8%) had received 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, 11 (8%) had received 2 MMR doses, and 1 (1%) had received 3 documented MMR doses.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 as a result of high 2-dose measles vaccine coverage, but it is still endemic or large outbreaks are occurring in countries in Europe (including France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland), Africa, and Asia (including India).
The increase in measles cases and outbreaks in the United States this year underscores the ongoing risk for importations, the need for high measles vaccine coverage, and the importance of prompt and appropriate public health response to measles cases and outbreaks, the CDC advisory said.
Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. After an infected person leaves a location, the virus remains contagious for up to 2 hours on surfaces and in the air. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
The CDC recommends that healthcare providers ensure that all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine and other vaccines. For those who travel abroad, the CDC recommends that all US residents older than 6 months be protected from measles and receive the MMR vaccine, if needed, before departure.
Infants aged 6 through 11 months should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before departure. Children aged 12 months or older should have documentation of 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days).
Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity should have documentation of 2 appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccine. One of the following is considered evidence of measles immunity for international travelers: birth before 1957, documented administration of 2 doses of live measles virus vaccine (MMR, MMRV, or measles vaccines), laboratory (serologic) proof of immunity, or documentation of physician-diagnosed measles.
Clinicians should consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone with a febrile rash illness lasting 3 days or more, a temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza, and/or conjunctivitis) who has recently traveled abroad or who has had contact with someone with a febrile rash illness. Immunocompromised patients may not exhibit rash or may exhibit an atypical rash. The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days (range, 7 – 12 days), and from exposure to rash onset is usually 14 days (range, 7 – 21 days).
Suspected measles case-patients should be isolated, and healthcare professionals should immediately report cases to local health departments to ensure a prompt public health response. Providers should obtain specimens for testing, including viral specimens for confirmation and genotyping, the CDC advises.
The CDC advisory updates data reported in the April 8 and May 27 issues of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.








