When History Repeats Itself: The Return of a Deadly Disease
Measles is a disease that can easily spread from person to person, and can even result in death. Some of the common symptoms that people report experiencing include fever, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, and skin rash. Historically, measles was once considered an epidemic, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe as a rapid, extraordinary surge in the rate of a particular disease in a given population. In 2000, the United States championed the war against measles by implementing successful public health interventions, such as teaching disease prevention strategies to local communities as well as developing the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine works by promoting the body’s self-defense system against the disease. However, it is only effective for people who have received the vaccine. Therefore, while those who are vaccinated remain protected from measles for the rest of their lives, those who are not vaccinated remain susceptible, as they have yet to acquire the self-defense mechanisms necessary to avoid contracting the disease. Fortunately, due to the high rates of public health education and vaccinations, the measles epidemic was successfully eradicated by the start of the century.
Though once thought to be eliminated, a new measles epidemic was nonetheless reintroduced to the United States for the first time since 2000, when two unvaccinated Amish men contracted measles on March 21, 2014 while abroad in the Philippines. Once they returned home to their Amish bunch - wherein the rate of vaccination is sparse - they inadvertently revitalized the prevalence of measles in their community. This ultimately catalyzed the biggest outbreak of measles in the United States in over 20 years.
Though once thought to be eliminated, a new measles epidemic was nonetheless reintroduced to the United States for the first time since 2000, when two unvaccinated Amish men contracted measles on March 21, 2014 while abroad in the Philippines. Once they returned home to their Amish bunch - wherein the rate of vaccination is sparse - they inadvertently revitalized the prevalence of measles in their community. This ultimately catalyzed the biggest outbreak of measles in the United States in over 20 years.
In 2014, an unvaccinated Amish community in Ohio experienced the greatest measles outbreak the United States has seen in over two decades. Measles was declared eliminated back in 2000.
Image Source: Robin Monks
Using this recent outbreak as a model, researchers from the American Journal of Epidemiology performed an experiment to show the impact of public health responses in reducing the spread of measles in a community that has not widely received the MMR vaccine. They created a mathematical model that simulated a measles outbreak, to which public health agencies, including those of community health educators, responded. The goal of their research was to see how well these public health agencies could contain the outbreak following its onset. They determined that the timeliness of intervention was an important factor; faster, more timely public health efforts were effective in containing the outbreak. In addition, they reinforced the necessity of the MMR vaccine, as they found that introducing the vaccine to the measles-ridden community greatly increased the containment of disease. In contrast, without these public health education seminars and vaccinations, the number of sick people was predicted to have been 20 times greater. Thus, the measles outbreak in Ohio in 2014, as well as the researchers’ hypothetical model, both highlight that timely public health efforts and high rates of vaccinations are imperative strategies in containing a widespread epidemic such as measles. They demonstrate the idea that health exists on a biosocial spectrum, as everyone’s individual choices about their health ultimately affect one another. Under this principle, a good rule of thumb is to get vaccinated, since vaccines are one of the most effective measures in controlling a disease to date. In doing so, not only would people be able to be proactive in their own health and safety, but they would also help by preventing the contraction and spread of illness within their community.
Featured Image Source: qimono
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