Recent reports indicate a troubling increase in measles cases, particularly in regions like Enfield, a borough in North London, where many of those impacted are children under the age of five. Alarmingly, one in five of these cases has required hospitalization, highlighting the severe implications of this highly contagious virus. Since October of the previous year, states across the U.S., including South Carolina, have reported significant outbreaks, with larger clusters of cases emerging in four states and smaller ones in several others. Most notably, these outbreaks predominantly affect unvaccinated children, a situation fueled by growing vaccine hesitancy, which the World Health Organization has identified as a major global health threat.
Critics often downplay the seriousness of measles, arguing that it was once a common childhood illness from which most children recovered. While it is true that many do recover, the disease can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, blindness, and even death in rare cases. Before the introduction of the measles vaccine, epidemics occurred every two to three years, resulting in about two million deaths annually worldwide. The vaccine has since prevented an estimated 21 million deaths, but declining vaccination rates pose a significant risk. Experts warn that vaccination coverage must reach 95% to effectively prevent outbreaks, yet many regions are falling short. In South Carolina, for instance, the proportion of kindergartners receiving the complete MMR vaccine has dropped from over 95% five years ago to approximately 86% today.
London faces similar challenges, with less than 85% of children receiving both doses of the MMR vaccine by age five. As a result, the UK lost its measles elimination status last month, joining other nations like Spain and Canada in this troubling trend. The resurgence of measles serves as a potential harbinger for other vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio and mumps. Experts like Dr. Anne Zink, an emergency medicine physician, have raised alarms about the implications of low vaccination rates. She points to past incidents of polio, which paralyzed individuals when vaccination rates fell, and warns that diseases such as hepatitis B could lead to severe health consequences, including liver cancer. Public health officials emphasize the need for renewed efforts to increase vaccination uptake, citing initiatives like South Carolina’s free MMR vaccination program as crucial steps in combating this public health crisis.
Source: Measles cases are rising. Other vaccine-preventable infections could be next. via MIT Technology Review