Measles
A case of measles is an unusual
souvenir. Yet that was what some
visitors to Disneyland in California
returned with in December. They
became infected with the virus at
the amusement park. Then, once
home, they passed it on to others.
By February 18, 182 cases had
appeared in the United States.
Another 18 cases popped up in
Quebec, and since the end of
January, 11 unrelated cases have
been reported in Toronto.
Going Viral
Measles is the most contagious
viral disease known. It’s also the
fourth leading cause of death in
children under five.
At the start, the virus usually
causes a cough, cold symptoms, a
high fever and a rash. It can lead to
ear infections and pneumonia.
Serious complications include
encephalitis, an infection that
causes brain swelling and may
result in permanent brain damage
or death. That occurs in one case
out of every 1,000.
The Measles Vaccine
Fortunately, there is a safe and
effective vaccine to protect against
measles. It has been used for more
than 50 years.
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), the vaccine
has resulted in a 75 percent drop in
measles deaths between 2000 and
2013. That means an estimated
15.6 million lives have been saved.
Unfortunately, some 21.8 million
infants worldwide still don’t get
basic vaccines. As a result, over
140,000 measles deaths were
reported in 2013. Most victims
were children under five in regions
with poor health care.
Canada: Measles Free!
The use of vaccines eradicated
measles from North America in
1998.
The standard MMR vaccine used
in Canada protects against three
diseases in one shot: measles,
mumps and rubella. Doctors
recommend that children get two
doses. The first one is given at 12
months and the second between
age four and six. Two doses give
almost 100 percent protection from
the virus.
Herd Immunity
So what’s behind the current
outbreaks? Public health officials
believe that the virus is coming
from overseas. In countries such as
Africa and Asia, the disease is still
endemic. It’s spreading in North
America because not enough
people are vaccinated.
If 95 percent of the population
receives the measles vaccine, the
virus can’t spread. Why? Because
it can’t find anyone to infect. This
is called ‘herd immunity.’
Herd immunity is important
because not everyone can be
vaccinated. Babies under a year
old or patients with weakened
immune systems should not get
shots, for example. But if most
other people are immune, the
vulnerable are protected because
the likelihood of coming into
contact with someone who has
measles is very, very small.
A Troubled Herd
In Canada, the vast majority of
parents immunize their children. In
most places, almost 95 percent of
people are protected from the
virus. In the Americas as a whole,
some 92 per cent of one‑ year-olds
receive a first dose of the measles
vaccine.
However, in recent years U.S.
health officials have seen an
alarming decline in vaccination
rates. There were 644 cases of
measles in the U.S. in 2014, the
highest number since 2000. Even
in Canada, pockets of low
vaccination coverage exist.
Anti-Vaxxers
Why would parents not vaccinate
their children? The motives vary.
Some groups opt out for religious
reasons. That’s what caused a
measles outbreak in 433 people in
a religious community in British
Columbia in 2014.
Others have personal reasons.
They don’t believe vaccines are
safe or necessary despite
mountains of scientific evidence
that support vaccine use. They may
be distrustful of the health system
and the drug companies making
the vaccines. They often get
misinformation from friends,
celebrities, or media outlets.
A 1998 study did appear to link the
MMR vaccine to autism. However,
the doctor who wrote it falsified
the data. He can no longer practice
medicine, yet he still has
supporters. Polls show that about
20 percent of people in Alberta and
Ontario think this vaccine might
cause autism.
“The anti-vaxxer movement is one
of the greatest risks to our
population in terms of infectious
diseases,” said one expert, Dr.
Gerald Evans.
Did You Know?
It costs about one dollar to immunize a child against measles.
Vaccines At Work
The vaccine used to protect against measles, MMR, contains weakened
forms of the measles, mumps and rubella viruses. This small dose
cannot give you these diseases. It is just enough to trigger your body
into mounting a defense.
When you receive a vaccine, your immune system starts creating
antibodies (proteins that destroy disease germs). The antibodies destroy
the vaccine viruses just as they would the disease viruses.
These antibodies remember how to fight off the virus. If the real disease
ever does enter your body, the antibodies fight it off before it can make
you sick.
Diseases that can be prevented by vaccines include cervical cancer,
diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough),
pneumonia, polio, rubella and tetanus.
endemic: prevalent in or limited to or common in a particular
locality, region, or people
eradicate: to remove or destroy utterly
falsify: to change something deliberately in order to trick
people
World Health Organization (WHO): a United Nations
agency to coordinate international health activities and to help
governments improve health services
On The Lines
Answer the following in complete sentences:
1. Describe the initial symptoms of measles.
2. Describe the complications that can result from measles.
3. Explain how a vaccine works.
4. For how long has a measles vaccine been available?
5. How many deaths has this vaccine prevented?
6. How many children in the world do not receive basic vaccines?
7. Explain why some people are opposed to vaccinations.
8. What measures can you suggest that the government could take to encourage all Canadian parents to vaccinate their
children? Explain.
9. A few doctors in the U.S. are refusing to treat unvaccinated patients. What reasons can you suggest to explain their
position? For what reasons do you agree with this position? For what reasons do you disagree?
On-Line
Visit our student website at www.news4youth.com and click on the What in the World? tab to:
1. Watch a 12-minute New York Times documentary called “Vaccines: An Unhealthy Skepticism” that explores how the
media and celebrities have played a powerful role in spreading misinformation about vaccines (or visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMsa7o48XBE).
2. See the top ten vaccine infographics according to the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (or visit
http://teamvaccine.com/2013/08/16/top-10-vaccine-infographics/).