The state of Minnesota was struck by a measles outbreak, after many people were won over by the antivaccine campaigners who convinced them that vaccines might be dangerous for their children. The victims belong to the Somali-American community from Hennepin County, who are quite vulnerable to this disease.
It is the second time over the past few years when this community is struck by a measles outbreak. This time, officials identified 44 people who were diagnosed with the disease, and discovered that only two of them had received a vaccine. Also, one in four sick children ended up in the hospital. However, doctors suspect that this is only the beginning.
- The victims of the recent measles outbreak belong to a Somali-American community in Minnesota.
- One two in 44 infected people had received a vaccine.
- This is a direct consequence of the misinformation spread by antivaccine campaigners.
This measles outbreak has the same cause as many others which occurred over the last six years. Parents refused to have their children vaccinated, as they feared that it might cause them to develop autism. In the case of the Somali-American outbreak, Andrew Wakefield was one of the most active militants against vaccines.
He succeeded in convincing the community to refuse vaccines for their children, which is even more worrying since they are more vulnerable to the disease than others. However, when he was contacted regarding the outbreak, he declared he did not feel responsible for it.
The officials were able to find the link between disease development and absence of vaccination. During previous outbreaks, they discovered how those people who had refused to get a vaccine came into contact with the virus and then spread it all over the state. Moreover, the disease is contagious even before the symptoms are present.
Doctors warned about the dangers of non-vaccination. Measles might have mild symptoms, but it can also bring complications, as it might lead to encephalitis, pneumonia and, eventually, death. Researchers found no link between vaccines and autism, but they discovered that such outbreaks are a direct consequence of non-vaccination. Therefore, they advise all people to have their children vaccinated.
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