Some families who headed to Disney over the holidays walked away from the Magical Kingdom with more than happy memories.
Seven visitors—all of them under the age of 21—to Disney theme parks in California contracted measles during visits between 15 to 20 December.
Three further residents are suspected of having the airborne virus, which is preventable by vaccine and had all but been eradicated in the U.S. since 2000.
Officials claim measles—which is seeing a comeback—can remain infectious for nine days, and speculate that it may have come from overseas visitors. Six of the seven sufferers weren't vaccinated (two of whom, presumably the 8-month-old baby, were too young). Two were from Utah, the rest from California.
Of course the Department of Public Health is now stating the obvious: Don't want measles? Get vaccinated. It's not rocket science.
As viruses go, measles spreads through highly contagious symptoms that resemble the common cold, such as coughing and sneezing, and is followed by an angry red rash on the infected person's face, eyes and body.
Jenny McCarthy Wants to Set the Vaccine Record Straight
Measles is bad for business, so Disney officials were quick to reassure the public that none of its staff has the virus and that "probably 90 to 95 per cent [of visitors] were vaccinated."
A bit of skepticism and critical thinking goes a long way.
While I don't have blind faith in modern medicine, it seems perverse to me not to protect our children against viruses we were lucky enough to avoid as kids.
Isn't it time to bury the McCarthy hatchet, and admit that some degree of vaccination just makes sense?
Printer-friendly version