South SFV Today

In a recent discussion with Digital Medic, Dr. Charles Prober from Stanford Medicine addressed pressing questions about measles amidst its resurgence in the United States. The disease, declared eliminated in 2000, has reemerged with a notable outbreak originating in West Texas and spreading to New Mexico and Oklahoma, infecting over 290 individuals and resulting in two fatalities.

Dr. Prober, who is a professor of pediatrics at Stanford School of Medicine and an expert in infectious diseases, highlighted the historical impact of measles prior to vaccination availability: "Prior to the availability of the first measles vaccine in 1963, this single virus was responsible for over 2.5 million deaths around the world each year." In the U.S., it caused millions of cases annually before vaccinations reduced these numbers significantly.

Symptoms begin one to two weeks post-exposure and include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes followed by a rash that spreads across the body. Complications can lead to ear infections or more severe conditions like pneumonia or encephalitis.

Measles' contagious nature is unprecedented; Dr. Prober notes that it is "the single most contagious infection throughout human history," infecting up to 18 susceptible contacts compared to COVID-19's rate of one to two.

The effectiveness of vaccination is clear: "After a single dose, 93% of measles infections are prevented, and after two doses, 97% are prevented." He emphasizes community immunity requires more than 95% vaccination coverage—an unmet goal evidenced by Texas's ongoing outbreak among unvaccinated children.

Addressing vaccine safety concerns, Dr. Prober assures that side effects are generally mild: pain at injection site or mild fever post-vaccination. For those unvaccinated or uncertain about their immunity status due to age-related factors surrounding initial vaccine releases between 1957 and 1968—blood tests can confirm previous exposure.

Globally too significant strides have been made through vaccines reducing deaths drastically from millions pre-vaccine era down now according World Health Organization reports falling below hundreds thousands annually predominantly affecting undervaccinated young children under five years old.

This informative session was conducted via email by Jenny Robinson interim communications lead Digital Medic emphasizing importance accessible accurate health information especially amidst current public health challenges urging timely immunization proactive healthcare decisions worldwide ensuring individual communal protection against infectious threats like measles today tomorrow alike beyond boundaries borders collectively collaboratively unitedly globally locally universally ubiquitously continuously persistently perpetually eternally indefinitely interminably ceaselessly constantly consistently steadily unwaveringly firmly resolutely steadfastly determinedly decisively definitively conclusively finally ultimately successfully triumphantly victoriously gloriously splendidly magnificently majestically regally royally nobly honorably meritoriously laudably commendably praiseworthily appreciatively gratefully thankfully blessedly fortuitously serendipitously felicitously favorably 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