In what shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, we have news today that the Pennsylvania measles outbreak has risen past 1,000 cases.
And that sets a new record!
Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Tops 1000 Cases
With 1,004 cases, the Pennsylvania measles outbreak surpasses the case count in the South Carolina outbreak (997 cases), and becomes the largest measles outbreak in the United States since 1992.
An outbreak that is not showing any signs that it is slowing down.
An outbreak that has already led to five measles deaths!
An outbreak that public health officials are working hard to contain by getting more people vaccinated and protected.
In Amish nation, nurses go door to door to stop lethal unfold of measles
Chester County has more measles cases than most entire states in the country
The behind-the-scenes effort to contain the nation’s worst ongoing measles outbreak
AAP Pennsylvania Chapter president: Measles outbreak a ‘perfect storm’ of factors
Pop-up measles vaccine clinic in Lancaster County sees Plain community turnout
In Lancaster, measles cases are rising as providers try to combat low vaccination rates
How do they do that?
Ervin Kauffman reassures his six children as they squeeze into a small back office for their second shot for mumps, measles and rubella since the outbreak began. While many Amish are not against vaccines in principle, many, including Kauffman’s children, have never had shots.
“I guess there was no scare to us before,” Kaufman says. “I guess we were too relaxed.”
Measles Outbreak In Ohio Leads Amish To Reconsider Vaccines
Mostly because the Amish are not actually against getting vaccinated because of any kind of religious principles. Instead, they often just don’t think it is necessary.
Not necessary until it becomes obvious that they are very necessary.
Unfortunately, that’s typically after they are hit by a large outbreak and people start dying.
But at least they are finally getting vaccinated, right?
Just like everyone else who has heard about these outbreaks, right?