Over 100 cases of Measles in Pennsylvania's Latest Outbreak

    In the latest outbreak of measles in Pennsylvania, the total number of cases has exceeded 100. The outbreak is amongst the unvaccinated and is centered in Lancaster County. The County is the heart of “Pennsylvania Dutch (German) Country,” including the Anabaptists (Amish, Mennonite, etc.) who tend not to vaccinate, just like the outbreak in Texas over a year ago had spread from a Mennonite community from Mexico. That outbreak sickened well over a thousand Americans (not only Mennonites) across several States and killed two children. 

    As I have posted, measles, the most contagious disease, is a virus that was the leading cause of deafness and that can be deadly, but is preventable by safe and effective vaccines. It was eradicated across America by the early 2000s, but increased vaccine hesitancy has decreased the herd immunity necessary to prevent contagion from spreading, just as with other preventable diseases, especially because not everyone has a sufficient immune system to allow vaccination to be effective. Therefore, measles has been spreading in America and Europe. Far-left, far-right and extreme libertarian conspiracy theories, amplified by Russian disinformation, have contributed to vaccine hesitancy, despite numerous clinical studies disproving the alleged dangers of vaccination. 

    The rare risks of vaccination are far outweighed by the harms of the diseases they prevent or lessen the severity of. Americans should follow vaccine recommendations to prevent and eradicate preventable diseases like measles, mumps, diptheria, etc. to protect themselves and their children, in addition to helping to keep those who are immune compromised safe from dangerous illness.