Measles

Sad and worrying at the same time: there current measles outbreak in Wales, UK, has effected nearly 700 people at this point, with the first death under investigation for its relation to measles.

Read more in the NHS’ statement from April 16: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/news/26780

While this is certainly worrying news, I also want to share some “positive” news from UCL’s Institute of Child Health: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ich/research-ich/mrc-cech/MRCCECH-news/regaining-confidence-in-mmr-vaccine.

Measles are not “just one of the childhood illnesses I also had as a kid, and I am fine now” but the extremely contagious virus is spread by coughing and sneezing and close personal contact, and is one of the leading causes of death among young children.

A 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield led to the widespread media coverage and speculation about the safety of the MMR vaccine. The medical paper was retracted and discredited four years later and was identified as fraud.

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Luitgard Holzleg

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