This week I have been reading a lot about vaccinations. The topic caught my eye after seeing a report that claims nine cases of measles have been confirmed in the states of California and Utah, plus three more suspected.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be transferred easily from person to person through coughs, sneezes and other airborne aerosols, as well as direct contact with an infected person. The result can be fatal though with modern medicine and vaccinations it is all together preventable.
The outbreak in the states is believed to have spread at Disneyland. With a daily average upwards of 40,000 visitors, it is lucky there were only 9 reported victims. The small volume of casualties can be attributed to vaccinations. If vaccinated a person is 90% less likely to contract the disease. By vaccinating the majority of a community you decrease the likelihood of a outbreak. This method aided greatly in the eradication of smallpox.
In the California/Utah case it appears that most victims had not been vaccinated. While there could be any number of reasons for not having been vaccinated, for two of the Disneyland victims, it was simply due to their young age. It is uncommon for children younger than twelve months old to receive the Measles vaccine as they may have antibodies from their mothers immune system which can hinder the effectiveness of the vaccination process.
There are many people around the world that oppose vaccinations, here in New Zealand we have the option to deny the vaccine though it is encouraged by our government. Those who choose not to receive vaccines can fall under a blanket of protection provided by those who have. The community becomes less susceptible to disease but ultimately the risk is still present.
