That we are now seeing warnings about a potential #measles outbreak in #London tells you much about the state of the UK
Misled by charlatans, some have decided not to have their children vaccinated over the last decades (perhaps hoping that normal herd immunity would allow them to free-ride on #vaccination programmes, or perhaps thinking the risks from measles or other diseases were so low as to make the miss-conceived danger of harm of greater importance?)
@RHW “One of the most unique—and most dangerous—features of #measles pathogenesis is its ability to reset the immune systems of infected patients. During the acute phase of infection, measles induces immune suppression through a process called immune amnesia.“
@RHW@sellathechemist “Studies in non-human primates revealed that MV [measles virus] actually replaces the old memory cells of its host with new, MV-specific lymphocytes. As a result, the patient emerges with both a strong MV-specific immunity and an increased vulnerability to all other pathogens.” #measles
@adamjkucharski In communicating reasons why a measles #vaccine is important, I find many people don't know about the disease erasing #immune memory (making kids susceptible to re-catching other diseases after they recover from a #measles infection). I think it's an important detail to discuss with parents.
In the UK, measles were considered to be eliminated in 2016-7, but since 2018, they're back. As Hannah Devlin writes,
"Between 1 January and 30 June this year there have been 128 cases of measles, compared with 54 cases in the whole of 2022, with 66% of the cases detected in London, although cases have been seen in all regions."
London is at serious risk of an epidemic outbreak due to its density of population and the fact that in some parts of London the In some parts of London, coverage of the first anti-measles vaccine at two years of age is as low as 69.5%.
The WHO says that coverage of 95% or greater of two doses of measles vaccine is needed to create herd immunity.
In November, the CDC and World Health Organization released a joint report that found 40 million children missed at least one dose of the measles vaccine in 2021 — a record high. The virus is an "imminent global threat," the groups said.
The CDC advisory recommended people talk with their doctor "several weeks before traveling abroad, regardless of your destination, to see if you or any dependents need MMR vaccine."
Ah... so, 10 million people per year, let's conservatively divide that by 365 (would be more on a weekend), so possibly 27,397 people (or more) could have walked through a cloud of #measles.
NEW from me: Right-wing media outlets lying about #Covid#vaccines has made Republicans drastically less supportive of childhood vaccination requirements against #mumps, #measles & #rubella.
Confidence in ROUTINE childhood vaccinations declined during pandemic.
Vaccine hesitancy means Canada may not maintain it's comfortable level of herd immunity against preventable childhood illnesses.
There have been recent cases of #measles, whooping cough, and meningococcal disease in various parts of #Canada. #polio