U.S. measles cases in 2013 may be most in 17 years Ilana Lemack 5th period

summary:

2013 is predicted to be the largest outbreak of measles in over a decade and some parents are refusing to vaccinate their children. According to Centers for Disease Control there were 159 cases of measles in the United States from January 1 through August 24, and if this trend continues, there will be more cases in 2013 than in any year since 1996 when 500 cases were reported. The disease was supposedly eradicated in 2000, but the numbers have recently crept back up, largely because of visitors from countries where measles is common and because many US citizens are refusing to get the vaccine. According to the CDC, one to three out of every 1,000 children in the United States who get measles will die. The largest outbreak was in New York, where 58 people contracted measles in a community where many refuse to be vaccinated for religious reasons.

 analysis:

Okay, who in their right mind would turn down a vaccination for a disease that could possibly kill you? And not are you making a decision that will affect you, you’re bad decision can affect everyone you interact with. Do not let other people suffer because you made a poor choice. Anyone can be as risk for measles and not getting vaccinated greatly increases this risk. So, if you’re reading this ans you’re unsure if you have gotten the vaccination, get off the computer and go ask your parents. I don’t think any of us want to get the measles just because someone didn’t get the vaccine. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/12/health/worst-measles-year/index.html