An interesting discovery... although I wonder whether the reintroduction of measels (even a weak strain) into the general population is a wise idea.
Being vaccinated against measels does not guarantee against an outbreak of the virus. Vaccinations are not cure-alls - they are preventative measures, with a recorded 1-5% margin of error (http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf). Even given all of the medical breakthroughs over the last century, our scientific and medical experts have never discovered a way to destroy parasitic viruses, aside from the destruction of its vector or host through the use of intense heat. What that means is that basically, once you catch a virus, it stays in your immune system until you die - hopefully suppressed permanently by your own natural antibodies(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus and http://bioweb.wku.edu/courses/BIOL115/Wyatt/Immunology/Immune3.htm). However, supressed viruses can still be passed onto others, depending upon its vector type (i.e. airborne, fluid passage, direct skin contact).
Measels is a pox-type virus that is passed through direct contact through the epidermis AND through fluid vectors that go airborne. It is also no exception to the secondary passage rule -- many people catch measels because a supposedly healthy person, who has the virus suppressed in their immune system, sneezes in their general direction.
Now, enter in this scenario: immigrants coming to this country are not necessarily vaccinated against measels, mumps and rhubella. The U.S. DOES take the precautionary measure of vaccinating immigrants who register for citizenship, but what about the millions who come here on temporary work visas, or who come here illegally? I don't think its reasonable to trust that their countries have necessarily vaccinated them against measels (especially in poorer countries, where vaccines are extremely difficult to come by). Given that, do you think it wise to begin artifically introducing measels to the general public again, especially given the secondary passage rule of this type of virus (which completely nullifies this cancer study's requirement that the patient be vaccinated against measels themself)?
Personally, I believe a viral outbreak of measels in the U.S. could be catastrophic to many unvaccinated people, especially given pox viruses' increasing drug-resistence over the last 50 years, and its increasing strength. Is a pox plague that could attack the general public (a 1 in 2 chance of catching it) in a short, violent timespan be more deadly and devestating than the current cancer epidemic (that currently affects 1 in 6 people)?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-03-12 06:38 pm (UTC)Being vaccinated against measels does not guarantee against an outbreak of the virus. Vaccinations are not cure-alls - they are preventative measures, with a recorded 1-5% margin of error (http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf). Even given all of the medical breakthroughs over the last century, our scientific and medical experts have never discovered a way to destroy parasitic viruses, aside from the destruction of its vector or host through the use of intense heat. What that means is that basically, once you catch a virus, it stays in your immune system until you die - hopefully suppressed permanently by your own natural antibodies(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus and http://bioweb.wku.edu/courses/BIOL115/Wyatt/Immunology/Immune3.htm). However, supressed viruses can still be passed onto others, depending upon its vector type (i.e. airborne, fluid passage, direct skin contact).
Measels is a pox-type virus that is passed through direct contact through the epidermis AND through fluid vectors that go airborne. It is also no exception to the secondary passage rule -- many people catch measels because a supposedly healthy person, who has the virus suppressed in their immune system, sneezes in their general direction.
Now, enter in this scenario: immigrants coming to this country are not necessarily vaccinated against measels, mumps and rhubella. The U.S. DOES take the precautionary measure of vaccinating immigrants who register for citizenship, but what about the millions who come here on temporary work visas, or who come here illegally? I don't think its reasonable to trust that their countries have necessarily vaccinated them against measels (especially in poorer countries, where vaccines are extremely difficult to come by). Given that, do you think it wise to begin artifically introducing measels to the general public again, especially given the secondary passage rule of this type of virus (which completely nullifies this cancer study's requirement that the patient be vaccinated against measels themself)?
Personally, I believe a viral outbreak of measels in the U.S. could be catastrophic to many unvaccinated people, especially given pox viruses' increasing drug-resistence over the last 50 years, and its increasing strength. Is a pox plague that could attack the general public (a 1 in 2 chance of catching it) in a short, violent timespan be more deadly and devestating than the current cancer epidemic (that currently affects 1 in 6 people)?
Just food for thought...