Measles virus exposed at two Salt Lake County events, 990 may have been affected

Deseret News ^ | April 22, 2011 | Wendy Leonard

[decimon]

SALT LAKE CITY — The measles virus may have been present, albeit uninvited, at two recent community events in the Salt Lake Valley and nearly 1,000 people are collectively reported to have been in attendance.

Epidemiologists have determined that a single measles-infected person attended both a presentation by author Nicholas Kristof at the Salt Lake Community College on April 11, and the Entrepreneurial Challenge Final Awards Event at the Rice-Eccles Stadium, at the University of Utah, on April 13.

"I was surprised. I didn't anticipate that," said Garth Koyle, who participated at the April 13 event. "I probably talked to and shook hands with about a hundred people that night."

The Utah Department of Health on Thursday fielded more than two dozen phone calls resulting from the announcement that more people may have been exposed to the highly contagious disease.

And they expect more. They want to hear from every individual who attended either event and "because of the magnitude of the how many people are involved," public information specialist Charla Haley said they've enlisted the help of the Utah Poison Control Center's phone bank to make that possible.

Anyone who attended either event should call the center, at 1-800-222-1222, and choose option No. 6 on the recorded message.

[decimon]

Ping

[djf]

I had measles.

I’m still here.

[PowderMonkey]

"I had measles. I’m still here."

I had measles at age 27. It nearly killed me.

[decimon]

Measles-Exposure-Confirmed-at-NJ-Restaurant

Measles comes ashore in the Ocean State

Minnesota's 21st case of measles this year confirmed

[tiki]

I had them when I was 1 and they nearly killed me.

[stevem]

Must be kind of a slow news day.

Does option number six tell you to lay in lots of canned goods and water bottles and make sure you have a survival kit in the trunk of your car?

I usually catch one cold per winter. This year I caught three. I thought two of them were more severe than normal. I'm sorry to say I probably came within some kind of danger boundary of many people and did so each time. That's three times!

That should rate at least a picture spread in the daily paper.

[decimon]

This is a follow-up to a thread from yesterday: Europe, especially France, hit by measles outbreak (vaccinations down)

[Dacula]

Is there a connection with illegal immigrants and the state of Utah being a sanctuary for illegals?

[Fresh Wind]

What was the virus exposed to?

[PowderMonkey]

Interesting thread. Thanks. I'm reminded of my experiences in Third World countries; particularly as a boy first witnessing the ravages of diseases such as small pox, and polio. The blindness, scars, paralytics dragging themselves through the streets were commonplace. I recall my father's words as he patiently explained how such things came to be, and accordingly developed an early appreciation for the advances in medical science.

[decimon]

I guess that seeing is horrifyingly believing. From where do you hail?

[PowderMonkey]

"I guess that seeing is horrifyingly believing. From where do you hail?"

Absolutely. We are not insensitive to the suffering of others, but our high standard of living here in the U.S. blinds us to a veritable pageant of human afflictions, common in other parts of the world. As an American foreign service brat, the shock of first exposure was disturbing in the extreme. As an adult serving overseas, it saddens and gives one pause to wonder what it would take for such things to be commonplace here. Now I know.

[Caipirabob]

I never truly appreciate what we have here until I traveled abroad. My first experiences were in Mexico. Then France of all places taught me to appreciate American hygiene. Later, I went to South America and have actually walked through favelas/shanty towns in Brasil. We stopped in a bar in one place for a beer. The fridge was powered by pirated electricity via open lines that they simply linked up to and plugged in. Anyway, I doubt it comes close to what you described, but it's enough for me to relate to my kids and tell them "You just don't know how good you've got it!"

Cheers!

[oh8eleven]

I never truly appreciate what we have here until I traveled abroad.
My first overseas stop - at 19 years old - was Vietnam. I have never taken anything for granted since.
It's also why I advocate for a renewal of the "draft." Two years service, military or civilian, and has to include six months in a third world country.
I usually get flamed for that (that's slavery! communist! etc.), but there are just waaaaaay too many in this country who don't have a clue.

[PowderMonkey]

My first experiences were in Central America. Seeing victims of polio was an everyday occurrence. The poor spent their days on a sheet of cardboard, begging for coins and dragging themselves through the streets. The more affluent could afford leg braces and wheel chairs. I can still recall the sight of many of my classmates in steel leg braces. One friend in particular lived in an Iron Lung. That memory still gives me nightmares.

[PowderMonkey]

Anybody opposed to childhood vaccinations should visit: Take the Shots!

The photo section there is a real opener for those too young to remember the scourge of childhood polio.

[ReignOfError]

It's also why I advocate for a renewal of the "draft." Two years service, military or civilian, and has to include six months in a third world country.

If we're going to have a draft, everyone serves. Male and female, no exemptions for anyone mentally and physically capable (and if you're in a wheelchair, we'll find something you can do). Only a few deferments -- if you're in med school, for example, you can finish school and serve as a doctor.

[oh8eleven]

Oh yes, females too, equal rights don’t ya’ know.

[decimon]

It's also why I advocate for a renewal of the "draft." Two years service, military or civilian, and has to include six months in a third world country.

That would mandate vaccinations.