Measles Outbreak Has Capitol Hill On Edge
Freaked out congressional staffers are on alert given the recent outbreak of measles in the Washington Area, especially since one of possible sites of exposure to the deadly virus is a Potbelly Sandwich Works on Capitol Hill. (Eeek!)
An email (which was forwarded to the Sleuth with the subject line "Measles!!") is floating around congressional offices with the following Fox News story attached:
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Hundreds of people in the Washington area may have been exposed to measles after an infected man and his wife, a potential carrier of the virus, visited several public places earlier this month, health officials said Monday.
The case demonstrated the potential reach of the highly contagious disease, which had state and local officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia rushing to determine whether the virus may have spread or where. They released a list of seven sites, including restaurants and grocery stores across the region -- all visited by the two between April 4 and 10.
Dr. Reuben Varghese, public health director for Virginia's Arlington County and head of the regional public health committee, said people who were at those sites at the specific time periods listed and who are not vaccinated, should immediately call their public health departments.
"Diseases do not respect city, county or state borders," Varghese said. "In fact many in our area live, work and play across several jurisdictions, which makes a single case of measles in one jurisdiction a potential concern for our region."
The rest of the story is here.
By
Mary Ann Akers
|
April 22, 2009; 5:22 PM ET
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Posted by: BOWMAN1 | April 24, 2009 4:54 PM | Report abuse
What is the big deal?? People in my age group all had the measles - no problem. Plus, I thought all these kids were vaccinated?
Posted by: skimom27 | April 24, 2009 6:20 PM | Report abuse
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The recent panic about measles is exaggerated. Before the measles vaccine, almost all children had measles, both kinds. Very few had complications if they were well-cared for. Most mothers knew the measles care routine - bed rest, darkened room to protect the eyes, and lots of fluids and mild foods to eat. It ran its course and as a result the children were immune to measles for life, having stronger immune systems as a result of the measles "rite of passage."
Much damage has occurred to children resulting from the measles vaccine,including lowered immune systems, allergies and even paralysis and death. Those of us who were allowed to have the measles at the proper time during childhood can count ourselves fortunate.