Measles Cases Soaring Across Europe

[jim360]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45246049

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-6078639/Travellers-urged-check-vaccination-status-European-measles-cases-soar.html

The panic of the 1990s coming back to bite us?

Also spreading somewhat in the US too, albeit currently at much lower rates. But measles was declared extinct in the US only 18 years ago, so that it's back there at all is a cause for concern.

[Old_Geezer]

Still, those infected are easy to spot.

[pixie374]

Bit of a rash BA, jim

[vetuste_ennemi]

There's an obvious explanation for the recurrence in a country A of, say, a disease X which had been eliminated twenty years since: immigration from a country Z where disease X has not been eliminated.

I note that a particularly gifted and creative poster has produced a less obvious alternative: the disease has been caught and thereby re-imported by a holiday-goer from A who has rashly spent two weeks in Z.

Members of that shrinking minority on AB - the honest poster - will notice that my phrase "obvious explanation" is not equivalent (in the measles, or any other specific instance) to the assertion that the "obvious" explanation is necessarily the right one, and, therefore, will not accuse me of the false equivalence.

[Mamyalynne]

Like you Pixie we have children in the family on the spectrum, all had the MMR and none of us blame the vaccine - Wakefield and others before him caused a lot of damage.

There may be other factors at work too but the drop in uptake is the biggest of them.

[goodgoalie]

After my mother died, I came across a little notebook in which she'd kept details of the illnesses of her three children. I was amazed to see that in one year, when I was six, I had chickenpox, German measles and measles - the latter I can remember as being very unpleasant, with lots of time in a darkened room, and much worry from my Mum and Dad.

This news of an increase in cases in Europe is very sad, and should concern everyone.

[Canary42]

In my youth I had measles, mumps, croup (initially diagnosed as whooping cough), and pneumonia (initially diagnosed as rheumatic fever), all before I reached my teens. Not very nice. I was vaccinated against TB, diphtheria, and polio fortunately. As a result I am a firm believer in vaccination (which is why I support the oft-maligned 'flu jab)

[Canary42]

Oh yes, I forgot chicken pox - had that too ;-(

[goodgoalie]

I think I was probably among the last to have had a routine smallpox vaccine. Oh please God, no, don't let that make a comeback.

Although it's been declared eradicated, I think they've kept examples in labs in Russia and USA - Atlanta, I think.....

[jim360]

Both could be responsible, v-e -- although, to be sure, even in the immigration case it's hardly the newcomer's faults, as I'm sure you weren't intending to imply anyway. However, I believe it's mainly tourism being blamed, as that is usually more likely to be associated with disease transfer.

[naomi24]

TB has also made an unwelcome return in recent years. Suspicion of the MMR jab can hardly be held responsible for that. I think we need to think.

[vetuste_ennemi]

// even in the immigration case it's hardly the newcomer's faults//

I think I'm more generous than to blame the victims of poor governance and superstition for their unhappy inheritance, Jim.

[jim360]

The rise of antibiotic resistance in various TB strains, which is what's going on there, is an entirely separate issue. MMR uptake decrease is a serious issue that shouldn't be side-lined, or undermined, by unrelated issues.

[jim360]

Indeed v-e, and I hope that the second part of my sentence acknowledged that.

[Peter Pedant]

TB's gone up - no lets stick to Measles
.
.v-e bless ! opines ( er from no evidence at all)
immigration from a country Z where disease X has not been eliminated. .. ( is the cause of the measles outbreak )

I ( writes V-E powefully) note that a particularly gifted and creative poster has produced a less obvious alternative: the disease has been caught and thereby re-imported by a holiday-goer from A who has rashly spent two weeks in Z.

.Hi v-e ! obvious if one reads the BMJ - a natural choice for public health - - hey love the rash reference - then one will find:
.
"commenting on the figures, Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: “We have seen a number of measles outbreaks in England which are linked to ongoing large outbreaks in Europe. The majority of cases we are seeing are in teenagers and young adults who missed out on their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) when they were children. Anyone who missed out in the past or is unsure should contact their GP. We would encourage people to ensure they are up to date with their MMR vaccine before travelling to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks, heading to large gatherings such as festivals, or before starting university.”


Yup brought in by unvaccinated holiday makers going to raves
( which I read originally in the daily mail I think but no matter)

creative, unlikely - but still the explanation

( oh god you didnt really think it was immigration did you ? a)
for a start the camps would be full of it and the odd dead baby,
and b) AOG et al would be screaming their tots off that the camps were pits of infection,plague and death )

correct, apposite and accurate - guilty as charged ......
( thx to The Office )
but I am obliged you read my post
and didnt just scoff " meazoolz - what dey den?" and skim read on, as I fear so many do

[Peter Pedant]

measles in immigrants

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/64443/1/__lse.ac.uk_storage_LIBRARY_Secondary_libfile_shared_repository_Content_Williams,G_Measles%20among%20migrants%20in%20EU_Williams_Measles%20among%20migrants_2016.pdf

is the only thing I can find 2016
"meaningful data is not available"

[vetuste_ennemi]

Point about shrinking minority of honest posters proved.
Think you not?

[hazydaisy]

Remember having measles as a child
3 weeks of pain, discomfort, being kept in the dark
Not allowed to read
Boredom
Long recuperation
My children were vaccinated!

[Jackdaw33]

I don't remember pain and discomfort, thought I vaguely recall being kept in the dark (why was that?). I don't think i took me that long to ge over it,but this was 64 years ago. Don't start me on shingles, I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.

[DTCwordfan]

Morning all, late in here today...e-mails to Leeds and back as to sorting out the daughter's bank - what a certain Scottish bank is doing, who knows but I think its one of those accounts where if you get 500 they move it to deposit and it's supposed to flow back the other way if you spend.....if it isn't then it's theft.

[DTCwordfan]

sorry wrong thread...not awake.