U.N. Says World Is Making Progress in Curtailing Measles Deaths

NY Times ^ | March 3, 2005 | LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN

[neverdem]

The world should be able to meet a goal of reducing by half the number of measles deaths by the end of the year, two United Nations agencies said today.

The number of deaths from the highly contagious viral disease has dropped by 39 percent, to about 530,000 in 2003 from 873,000 in 1999, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund said in a joint report.

During this period, the largest reduction in measles deaths occurred in Africa, the area where the disease hits hardest.

In 2003, the member countries of the World Health Organization set a goal of reducing by 50 percent the number of measles deaths by 2005.

The strategy called for immunizing at least 90 percent of infants and young children in every district and to provide a second immunization every three to four years. A second shot is needed for two reasons: to reach children who failed to receive the measles vaccine in the first round, and to stimulate the immune systems of the 10 to 15 percent of children who fail to develop immunity after a first shot at age 9 months.

The second shot to those groups aims at preventing the accumulation of susceptible children to dangerous levels. Almost all nonimmune children will contract measles if exposed to the virus.

Measles typically causes a rash and fever. The disease has become rare in developed countries where shots with a vaccine developed 40 years ago are standard.

But a decade ago, measles killed millions of children each year and many of the 30 million more who survived the illness were left blind and with brain damage and other lifelong disabilities.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[digger48]

NYT really digging to find a + for their idols.

[Fenris6]

The UN must be estatic. Less measles means more virgin children they can molest.

[Boardwalk]

I remember having measels, despite the best pediatric care money could buy. I only had a few and it was only semi-irritating (poison ivy is worse) and it was even cool to have survived it.

[anniegetyourgun]

A POX ON THE U.N.

[MoJo2001]

As my hubby refers to them, the Useless Nitwits are at it again!

[Libertina]

I get measles just reading about them... quickly leaving now for another thread ;)

[rickmichaels]

But a decade ago, measles killed millions of children each year and many of the 30 million more who survived the illness were left blind and with brain damage and other lifelong disabilities.

This was written in the Slimes and the author failed to ask what Bush knew about it??? Wow!!!

[HonestConservative]

All

Note the UN only does the report and sends the supplies and supervises the distribution of the vaccines.
Lets not forget to ignore the contribution of those evil pharmaceutical companies that actually INVENT AND CREATE the prevention for the diseases. Often donate the vaccine or sell at cost.
Can you imagine how many would be saved it it was done if say, Doctors without borders a private org. was in charge?
Or even the Doogie Hooser fan club for that matter. Note further that measles, like mumps and chcken-pox is more than semi-irritating.

Childhood diseases once thought to be harmless are now being studies as the original sources to diseases that manifest themselves again later in life, in horrifying forms. Diseases such as Alzheimer's, MS and Parkinsons etc. Those cute little warts cause cervical cancer! A incredibly effective vaccine is about to be submitted and approved. So effective that cervical cancer will probably be eradicated. Not to mention the knowledge that will come from its development that will be the basis to create other cancer preventing diseases. Oh, those horrible scientists! Bastards.
Ah...... the UN is in so many ways like Bill Clinton; (thinks because they wake up in the morning that they are responsible for the Sun coming up every day).

[Boardwalk]

Note further that measles, like mumps and chcken-pox is more than semi-irritating.

To some of the people some of the time.

[neverdem]

Note further that measles, like mumps and chcken-pox is more than semi-irritating.

To some of the people some of the time.

I was out of school for three weeks and went from 60 to 50 pounds when I had measles. Treatment for measles is normally supportive care. Inhibitors of measles virus. .

[lizma]

Childhood diseases once thought to be harmless are now being studies as the original sources to diseases that manifest themselves again later in life, in horrifying forms.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Chicken pox is known to reactivate and cause Shingles. But other than that I can't think of any other disease that comes back.

If you check out history, measles has been cited to devastate whole populations. (Native Americans, Hawaiians, Polynesians) It's theorized that the Europeans domestication of animals lead to a basic immunity to the disease.

Also there are two different viruses that are labeled "measles". One is not much worse than the common cold, the other is another story. They both cause spots.

[HonestConservative]

I am refering to the common misconception that childhood infectious diseases are an inconvenience and little more.

The Diseaes don't "come back". They have long term effects on the immune system.

There are studies that attempt to establish a relationship between the development of diseases like MS or Alzheimers later in life with measles and/or varicella in childhood. These studies are very preliminary, but cannot yet be discounted either.

You may not know a childhood disease that has long term
immune system implications, but that doesn't mean it isn't so. Remember when stomach ulcers were believed to be caused by stress? I remember being taught that asthma was a stress disorder. Things change. lol