Measles outbreaks in NYC, Orange County spotlight risks even for vaccinated

[SunSeeker]

Two measles outbreaks are occurring in major metropolitan areas at opposite ends of the country, putting the spotlight back on a once virtually-eliminated disease.
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In the California outbreak, none of the children had been vaccinated, but 10 of the adults said they received an MMR (measles mumps and rubella) vaccine, while six had an unknown vaccination status.
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The CDC says more than 95 percent of people who receive a single dose of the MMR vaccine are immune against measles, and a second dose gives immunity to almost all of those who don't respond to the first dose.
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"The issue there from our side as I see it is not an issue of the vaccine, but the number of people exposed in a health care situation," he said. "When you have that many exposed, even if the vaccine is 99 percent effective, you're going to have breakthrough cases. "

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-outbreaks-new-york-orange-county-spotlight-risks-even-for-vaccinated/
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So the folks not getting their kids vaccinated are even endangering us folks and our kids who do get vaccinated, since the vaccine is only 95-99% effective.

[longship]

1. Also they endanger those who cannot be vaccinated.

Those who are immuno-compromised or have health problems where immunization is not advised. Those who are too young to be vaccinated.

They are the ones who pay the penalty for anti-vaccination idiocy. Sometimes they pay with their lives. Too often given that diseases like measles, mumps, and pertussis are preventable with a simple jab.

How long before polio strikes again on these shores? I remember it in the early fifties, before the vaccine. It's still active in the world. Too bad. We could wipe it off the face of the planet, like smallpox, if we vaccinated everybody in the regions where there are outbreaks. India announced just the other day that they are polio free. Now we need to get the rest of the world in gear.

[HockeyMom]

2. Manhattan? Overseas Tourists Maybe?

Do they ask for an MMR Vac along with their Passport before they can enter the country? Doubt it. I say that because I worked 1:1 with a child in Florida who was not vaccinated. His Dad was from the UK. His Mom from Poland. The family went overseas twice a year to see their relatives. How was their unvaccinated son, daughter, and them(?) allowed back in the US without vaccinations then? Customs probably didn't require it.

BTW, I am going to NY on Saturday. I had measles as a kid. Not part of the so called "herd immunity" concept.

[countryjake]

3. Here in wa state, an outbreak was reported this evening on our local news...

They've said that the Washington cases are most likely related to the huge outbreak that's been going on up in BC throughout the month of March. I've checked for that report I heard, but our tv stations are slow in getting their stories up on the news sites. Here's all that I could find:

Whatcom County measles cases up to four in same home

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/04/01/3564213/whatcom-county-measles-cases-up.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1

THE BELLINGHAM HERALD April 1, 2014 ~ The number of measles cases in Whatcom County has increased to four, as the first person who was infected spread the disease to three other unvaccinated people in the same household, according to the Whatcom County Health Department...

The health department is keeping an eye on a few people who have been in close contact with the family so they can be isolated if symptoms begin.

The county cases are connected to a measles outbreak that was declared March 8 in Canada's Fraser Valley, where 320 confirmed cases have created British Columbia's largest outbreak of the disease.

Most of the cases were related to a religious group, called the Netherlands Reformed Congregation, that has a high number of unvaccinated children, according to the Vancouver Sun. The four local people who are infected live in Whatcom County but are part of that church community, Stern said.

Officials warn of possible measles exposure in San Juan County

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/03/officials-warn-of-possible-measles-exposure-in-san-juan-county/

March 31, 2014 ~ A San Juan Island adult has been diagnosed with measles and may have exposed others to the virus at three San Juan County sites, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Others at the following sites may have been exposed:

•Cask and Schooner: March 21 from 3:45 p.m. to midnight, March 22 from 3:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m., March 23 from 4 p.m. to midnight, and March 24 from 2:45 p.m. to midnight.

•China Pearl (upstairs bar only): March 22 from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.

•King’s Market: March 24 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Anybody who was at the sites on the dates listed, and who either doesn’t have immunity or is unsure about it, should contact his or her health-care provider or the San Juan County Health Department at 360-378-4474.

Two cases of measles have been confirmed in Whatcom County in March. They were traced to an outbreak of measles in the Fraser Valley, B.C., just north of the U.S.-Canada border, according to a Whatcom County news release. The majority of the cases in British Columbia are related to a private school that has a high number of unvaccinated children.