'Unprecedented' rise in measles

[27]

link

The BBC this morning have a story about an unprecedented rise in measles cases over the last year.
I'll C+P to save you clicking the link

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There is an "unprecedented increase" in measles cases in England and Wales, experts report.

Data from the Health Protection Agency showed there were 1,217 cases of measles from January to November 2008.

And 75% of the 115 cases diagnosed in November were outside the traditional hotspot of London - in the north west, west midlands and south east.

The HPA's Dr Mary Ramsay said the rise in cases was due to "relatively low" MMR uptake over the past decade.

Well at least they'll have a lower chance of developing asthma, which kills 1400 people a year in the UK.

Plus I would like to see how many of those cases were vaccinated.

Explain please stuffit? What's asthma got to do with measles?

(My DS has asthma and he hasn't had the MMR)

My sis has severe asthma and didn't have MMR (wasn't around then).

Of course they were due to low MMR uptake - that's what it's for. And as measles gets a foothold again it will be present in more and more communities and a risk for babies and non-vaccinated children everywhere. A friend's DD had it at a few months old, before she (or DS or her other contemporaries) had their MMR jabs - that was scary. She was OK and no one caught it from her, but it can be horrific.

I expect this may degenerate into an MMR debate and I won't say everyone should MMR, despite the evidence so far, because I understand that there are some cases where it might be wise not to. But I know parents who don't vaccinate and it seems to me to be not for a specific reason such as immune problems or a previous bad reaction in the family, but out of a general attitude of "conventional medicine is evil, it's all a sinister plot, stick it to the man". I think that's unfortunate and dangerous.

Study from the Who indicating lower incidence of asthma in people who have had measles. It was a long time ago, carried out in Africa.

It makes sense -- the "hygiene hypothethis" is that immune disorders develop more readily when children aren't exposed to viruses and dirt and so on to prime the system.

The rise in my area is frightening.

Younger babies are vulnerable now in a way they weren't when mothers had routinely had measles as a child, and passed that immunity on for the first eight months to a year in breastfeeding.

A vaccination does not give that sort of immunity so more babies are vulnerable from birth. In effect the disease seems to have been pushed into a more dangerous age group.

I'd be interested in knowing what the vaccination status of all those affected was too.

Sorry not through breastfeeding, it is simply passed through the mother, but not 100pc.

Re vaccinated cases getting measles - I know it's possible to get an illness you have been vaccinated against. But that doesn't mean the vaccine is ineffective. It's because of mass vaccination that so many hideous childhood diseases had all but disappeared in this country.

yes but only up to the first year

My friend was told that about chicken pox by her HV, that her baby couldn't catch it because she was breastfeeding. Yup, her baby got chickenpox.

Like I said, not 100pc

Aside from the actual should you or shouldn't you question re MMR and vaccinations in general, what this measles outbreak is demonstrating is herd immunity breaking down.

If vaccinations fall below a certain level (not sure of the exact % rate) you lose herd immunity and thus outbreaks of the disease will occur. This has consequences. Nobody can surely be surprised.

There are profound fallacies to the herd immunity theory.

who are you 27? can you link me to another thread you've started or posted on? would you mind?

That as may be Stuffit but it is surely difficult to dispute the fact that we are seeing more cases of measles because fewer children have been vaccinated against in the last 5-10 years or so? Or do you think there is another reason?

This just cause and effect surely? Admittedly I'd want more details on the actual numbers (and indeed the use of the word unprecedented) as it wouldn't be the 1st time the BBC has been a little, um, alarmist.

I guess, plus immunity running out and so on..

sorry .. just checking the op.. what's your opinion 27?

DS1 had the MMR at 4 1/2 yrs old and still caught measles. DS2 Has not had it and will not he will have the measles single eventually though. I have my reasons for not giving the MMR again.

the MMR is safe, always has been. end of.

daftpunk, you're wrong, end of

27 .. who are you

Here we go......