Creating, Promoting or Allowing a Potential Public Health DISASTER...

[Contrarian]

CPA: Create, Promote, Allow...

Many yrs ago, I was taught the if you Create a situation, Promote a situation , or Allow a situation... YOU are responsible for that situation and the outcome of it...

 

 

2011 Measles Outbreak—How to Protect Yourself

 

By Lisa Collier Cool

May 27, 2011

 

Beware: 2011 is on track to be the worst year for measles cases in more than a decade. Although the Centers for Disease Control declared

the

highly infectious

and

potentially fatal disease

“eliminated” from the US in the early 2000s

, it continues to spread, with the highest number of cases this early in the year since 1996, the CDC

reported

this week. Here’s the scoop on the outbreak and how to protect yourself and your family.

How extensive is the outbreak?

In the first 19 weeks of this year, 118 cases in 23 states have been reported, compared to a median of 56 cases a year between 2001 and 2008, according to the CDC. That means that in just five months, there have been more than double the number of cases that normally occur in an entire year. 40 percent of patients required hospitalization, with babies and kids under age five the most severely affected. In Europe, there’s been a far larger outbreak, with 33 countries battling measles. France has been hit by an epidemic of nearly 10,000 cases in the first four months of 2011.

What’s behind the rise?

90% of the current cases were “imported” into the US by travelers who visited countries with measles outbreaks, then brought the infection home, sometimes spreading the virus to other people.

Almost all of the cases were in people who hadn’t been vaccinated.

Another factor in the outbreak is some parents’ unfounded worries about vaccination, due to the now thoroughly disproven belief that the vaccine might cause autism.

Extensive research by the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the CDC have shown no link to autism.

Article here

 

 

As healthcare providers, are we "creating, promoting, or allowing" this situation to continue...?

 

Un-vaccinated people are disease vectors of easily preventable illnesses and a PUBLIC threat. People refusing vaccination is harming the community through their action/inaction.

In a medical practice, these folks expose the community at large (medical staff & other patients and general public) to the germs they are carrying/brewing.

Herd-Immunity" is important...!!!

 

Is small pox and Polio next... ?:sweat:

 

Thoughts...

 

Contrarian

[bradtPA]

Small pox only lives in the vaults in the US and Russia where we have so far refused to destroy the virus forever:(. But polio could ealiy be brought in by travelers to Africa and other places where it is still endemic

 

We require our dogs to be vaccinated against rabies without exception, yet won't do the same for humans....

[ventana]

ugh.... I hate the american society thought of personal liberty more important then the good of society. The "I don't want to vaccinate my kids" argument is purely stupid and uneducated - they love to talk about the what if's but never to stop to do the math and realize that most if not all the diseases we vaccinate against are far worse then the possibility of an AE with a vaccine. Sure if only one person in the whole US is unvaccinated that person is "safe" but logic like this is not acceptable. I counsel extensively on the true risk of flu vaccine each year as compared to the 30k people that DIE or the 200,000 people HOSPITALIZED due to the flu. But people still seem at times to be unable to realize they should jsut do it.

 

 

 

On a very related note - sorry but if you are working in a hospital you should not be able to work there unless you are up to date on vaccinations including flu - asymptomatic viral sheading is just exceptionally dangerous for a health care worker to walk around the hospital infecting all their patients with the flu - remember first do no harm???

 

 

Vaccinate the heck out of society - yes occasional AE happen but this is far outweighted by the good to society. And for people that say we overexpose/vaccinate our kids - I can completely agree with someone that wants to "spread the vaccines out over time" instead of sticking there kids 5 times in one visit and this is not what I am arguing, but instead the parents who just refuse all vaccinations for their kids - honestly if one of these kids could get sick and die from a preventable childhood illness and then the papers run this story all over the place I think it would help alot - problem is I can't in any way support anything that would kill a kid - but it would be sensational news and clear evidence to vaccinate!

[unewillow]

I think this is a great learning tool...

 

[dm123]

When Hepatitis B vaccine became available, our local school system pushed it hard, even for elementary school kids. There was a near revolt about the implication that “my” child might be sexually active or a user as an elementary school kid. I live in a very rural area. Our nearest town doesn’t have a stoplight and one high school for the whole county. Middle of the Bible belt and all that. I thought at the time maybe the school system was a bit over reacting, like the issue with pocket knives and school. Every male around here has one as a tool, not for defense. Maybe start Hep B in junior high.

 

It seems proper packaging of information helps but fear and the loss of control by parents to authority have aggravated the vaccine issue.

 

Years ago, I did a stent with Wyeth during the DPT or DTP mess. At one time, no one was willing to manufacture DPT. Thankfully, legislation was passed in the 80’s to help those that did have some sort of tragic reaction to protect the providers and a fund to compensate the victims but parents still have fear. Some believe that if everyone else gets vaccinated, then me and mine don’t need it.

 

Love the You Tube. Maybe leave out the cussing at the end and play it on the TV in the waiting room.

[Ginger]

Love the youtube & info shared; thanks all -

[Contrarian]

In the email...

 

Dear Immunization partners,

We issued a news release today on a CDC report of state level school immunization coverage and exemption data. The data from the 2009-2010 school year show that Washington kindergarteners do not meet the 95% state and national goal for coverage for any vaccine required for school entry and that we have the highest exemption rate in the country. The CDC report is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6021a4.htm and our news release is at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2011_news/11-083.htm.

This data support the important of the new exemption law. As you know, on May 10, 2011, Governor Gregoire signed into law legislation that changes the process for getting an immunization exemption. This law goes into effect on July 22, 2011. It affects parents, schools, child care centers and providers. After working with these stakeholders, the Washington State Department of Health has finalized the updated Certificate of Exemption form needed to implement the new law. We have also created supporting documents, including frequently asked questions, to help walk you through issues such as signature requirements, demonstration of religious membership, and effective dates. There will be information specific to the general public and one providers.

These documents are in the process of being posted on this website: http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/schools/default.htm.

If you have questions about today’s news release or data, please let me know. If you have questions on the new exemption legislation, please contact Jeff Wise at jeff.wise@doh.wa.gov, or 360-236-3483.

Thanks!

Michele

Michele Roberts, MPH, MCHES

Health Promotion and Communication Unit Manager

Immunization Program CHILD Profile

Washington State Department of Health

PO Box 47843

Olympia, WA 98504-7843

E-mail: Michele.Roberts@doh.wa.gov

Phone: 360-236-3720

Fax: 360-236-3590

Visit our websites: http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize and www.childprofile.org

Public Health - Always working for a Safer and Healthier Washington

[Contrarian]

Hmmm..........

 

 

 

 

CDC Health Advisory

Distributed via Health Alert Network

June 22, 2011, 16:00 EST (04:00 PM EST)

CDCHAN-00323-11-06-22-ADV-N

High Number of Reported Measles Cases in the U.S. in 2011—Linked to Outbreaks Abroad

Summary and Background

The United States is experiencing a high number of reported measles cases in 2011, many of which were acquired during international travel. From January 1 through June 17 this year, 156 confirmed cases of measles were reported to CDC. This is the highest reported number since 1996. Most cases (136) were associated with importations from measles-endemic countries or countries where large outbreaks are occurring. The imported cases involved unvaccinated U.S. residents who recently traveled abroad, unvaccinated visitors to the United States, and people linked to these imported cases. To date, 12 outbreaks (3 or more linked cases) have occurred, accounting for 47% of the 156 cases. Of the total case-patients, 133 (85%) were unvaccinated or had undocumented vaccination status. Of the 139 case-patients who were U.S. residents, 86 (62%) were unvaccinated, 30 (22%) had undocumented vaccination status, 11 (8%) had received 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, 11 (8%) had received 2 doses, and 1 (1%) had received 3 (documented) doses.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 due to our high 2-dose measles vaccine coverage, but it is still endemic or large outbreaks are occurring in countries in Europe (including France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland), Africa, and Asia (including India). The increase in measles cases and outbreaks in the United States this year underscores the ongoing risk of importations, the need for high measles vaccine coverage, and the importance of prompt and appropriate public health response to measles cases and outbreaks.

Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. After an infected person leaves a location, the virus remains contagious for up to 2 hours on surfaces and in the air. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.

Recommendations for Health Care Providers

· Ensure all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine* and other vaccines.

· For those who travel abroad, CDC recommends that all U.S. residents older than 6 months be protected from measles and receive MMR vaccine, if needed, prior to departure.

o Infants 6 through 11 months old should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before departure.†

o Children 12 months of age or older should have documentation of 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days).

o Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity** should have documentation of 2 appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccine.

· Consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone with a febrile rash illness lasting 3 days or more, a temperature of 101ºF (38.3ºC) or higher, and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza, and/or conjunctivitis) who has recently traveled abroad or who has had contact with someone with a febrile rash illness. Immunocompromised patients may not exhibit rash or may exhibit an atypical rash. The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days (range, 7 to 12 days) and from exposure to rash onset is usually 14 days (range, 7 to 21 days).

· Isolate suspect measles case-patients and immediately report cases to local health departments to ensure a prompt public health response.

· Obtain specimens for testing, including viral specimens for confirmation and genotyping.

* Children 1 through 12 years of age may receive MMRV vaccine for protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; however, MMRV vaccine is currently unavailable.

† Infants who receive a dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should receive 2 more doses of MMR vaccine, the first of which should be administered when the child is 12 through 15 months of age and the second at least 28 days later.

** One of the following is considered evidence of measles immunity for international travelers: 1) birth before 1957, 2) documented administration of 2 doses of live measles virus vaccine (MMR, MMRV, or measles vaccines), 3) laboratory (serologic) proof of immunity, or 4) documentation of physician-diagnosed measles.

For more information:

· CDC. Measles among Unvaccinated U.S. Residents Aged 6–23 Months Who Have Traveled Outside the United States, 2001–2011. MMWR. 2011;60:397–400.

· CDC. Measles—United States, January–May 20, 2011. MMWR. 2011;60;666–8.

· CDC. Notes from the Field: Measles Outbreak—Hennepin County, Minnesota, February–March 2011. MMWR. 2011;60:421.

· CDC’s Measles (Rubeola) website

· CDC’s Measles Vaccination website

· CDC’s Travelers' Health: In the News, 2011 Measles Update

· Medscape Today: CDC Expert Commentary: Measles: What You Might Not Know Recognizing, diagnosing, and preventing measles (running time: 5:20 mins)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES