topic Re: The History Of Measles In America in Community Chat

The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:25:01 GMT

I've seen so many people say measles are no big deal, they breezed through them.

Well, not everyone did. Time to look at the facts. I'm guessing some people will think it's all lies. My advice is to seek out elderly people who may be able to verify how bad it used to be.

THE HISTORY OF MEASLES IN AMERICA

In 1912, measles became a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, requiring U.S. healthcare providers and laboratories to report all diagnosed cases.

In the first decade of reporting, an average of 6,000 measles-related DEATHS were reported each year.

In the decade before 1963 when a vaccine became available, nearly all children got measles by the time they were 15 years of age.

It is estimated 3 to 4 million people in the United States were infected each year. Also each year an estimated 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 4,000 suffered encephalitis (swelling of the brain) from measles.

http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html

Re: The History Of Measles In America

MyGirlsMom — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:27:55 GMT

Hi Noel,

Thanks for the information.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

Maxine49 — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:31:31 GMT

Thanks for the facts.............

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:38:30 GMT

You're welcome.

Please feel free to copy the facts, should you need them when the subject comes up.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:46:54 GMT

Another thing to consider is the cost of treating all those who were sick, espeically those with serious reactions who were hospitalized.

We have a lot more people in this country today, but looking back at one point only, at that time 48,000 were hospitalized each year.

Folks, stop a minute and think of the cost of that and its impact on our personal cost for healthcare.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

JustJazzmom — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:49:29 GMT

Also the impact on our workforce with lost time and individual income and the use of sick time (if people have it).

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:53:06 GMT

Good point, Justjazzmom!

Sick time, yes. Including all the parents or others who have to take off work to become instant caretakers, or those working who have to take off for elderly relatives.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

Stray — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 21:12:35 GMT

General restrictions as well, quarantine and no congregating at public venues....not only implications to Public Health but the economy as well.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 21:19:29 GMT

Here's what that used to look like. I can remember seeing notices on the front door of homes.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

betteb — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 21:24:04 GMT

Noel, I remember seeing some of those notices too. As I posted before, I had the measles and they were still vaccinating for small pox at the time. I believe there was still a case or two of small pox in my area, that would have been early to mid 60's.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 21:32:31 GMT

Hi bette

It really wasn't all that long ago, I'm sure many of us on this board can remember measles.

I had all three, measles, mumps and rubella, which they used to call the three day measles. I had them pretty much all in a row, too, which meant I was really sick for several months. Somewhere along the line, I had chicken pox, too. Shingles, about 10 years later.

Thank goodness for vaccines!

Re: The History Of Measles In America

traveler — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 21:55:05 GMT

Just had a measles death in Alaska.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

betteb — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:06:15 GMT

@NoelSeven wrote:
Hi bette

It really wasn't all that long ago, I'm sure many of us on this board can remember measles.

I had all three, measles, mumps and rubella, which they used to call the three day measles. I had them pretty much all in a row, too, which meant I was really sick for several months. Somewhere along the line, I had chicken pox, too. Shingles, about 10 years later.

Thank goodness for vaccines!

I never had Mumps. I had Rubella and Chicken Pox, no Shingles yet, thank goodness, and yes, thank goodness for vaccines.

You know, if my memory serves me right, back then, if you even talked about not wanting vaccines, you got treated like a criminal or a communist or something

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:12:05 GMT

"Just had a measles death in Alaska."

Oh, no

Re: The History Of Measles In America

betteb — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:16:44 GMT

@NoelSeven wrote:
"Just had a measles death in Alaska."

Oh, no

So that's 2 in the US in that last 3 months.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

JustJazzmom — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:17:18 GMT

@traveler wrote:
Just had a measles death in Alaska.

TRAVELER, was that the Fairbanks man who had travelled to Mongolia??

So sad indeed.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:19:54 GMT

bette, I don't remember anyone talking anti-vax, this is all new to me.

I think I felt the worst with mumps. The sides of my face hurt so much. My grandmother kept the house as dark as possible, I don't remember why. Evidently mumps can cause deafness and she was really worried about that. She must have known someone who went deaf from getting mumps

Re: The History Of Measles In America

JustJazzmom — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:22:32 GMT

@NoelSeven wrote:
bette, I don't remember anyone talking anti-vax, this is all new to me.

I think I felt the worst with mumps. The sides of my face hurt so much. My grandmother kept the house as dark as possible, I don't remember why. Evidently mumps can cause deafness and she was really worried about that. She must have known someone who went deaf from getting mumps

I just googled and I knew measles causes light sensitivity or photo phobia (thus the drawn shades./curtains) but mumps also causes photo phobia too. I learned something new.

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:22:55 GMT

bette, check out the Jim Carrey update on that line...

Re: The History Of Measles In America

NoelSeven — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:26:18 GMT

Jazzmom said:

"I just googled and I knew measles causes light sensitivity or photo phobia (thus the drawn shades./curtains) but mumps also causes photo phobia too. I learned something new."

*******************************************

Thanks, JJM! I think the house was dark for a long time, one right after another. My grandmother lived with us, we were very close. She was also very elderly then, but everything she told me about health has turned out to be valuable and true.