Measles News and Research

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Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. It remains a leading cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. An estimated 197 000 people died from measles in 2007, mostly children under the age of five.

Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. The measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and the lungs. It is a human disease not known to occur in animals.

UK Government to 'consider all options' to control measles outbreak

Like many other countries, the UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said that the government is being forced to “consider all options” to control the spread of measles after a rise in cases.

6 May 2019

Study shows large differences in the risk of transmission in measles outbreaks

Research that may come to affect contact tracing and infection control measures in future measles outbreaks has now been presented. A study of an outbreak of measles in Gothenburg, Sweden, a year ago shows large differences in the risk of transmission from one patient to another.

6 May 2019

Globally measles at an all time high

In the United States, the number of cases of vaccine-preventable viral disease measles is on a 25-year record high. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main reason behind this is inadequate vaccination of the general population. Spread of misinformation regarding vaccine safety is to be blamed for inadequate vaccination of the population says the agency.

30 Apr 2019

Traumatized children tend to suffer from diseases suffer in adulthood

Traumatized children and children who develop multiple allergies tend to suffer in adulthood from chronic inflammatory diseases and psychiatric disorders.

30 Apr 2019

The return of the measles: are we going backward?

Measles, a disease that was once eradicated in many countries, is making a return. Thus, the question must be asked, are we going backward in our efforts to vaccinate and prevent the disease?

29 Apr 2019

Measles vaccination rates are a 'public health time bomb'

The number of measles cases is on the rise globally, with many countries seeing rates that surpass annual rates for the past century. Public health officials are calling it a 'time bomb'.

25 Apr 2019

Febrile seizures following vaccination are self-resolving and not dangerous

New research from the University of Sydney has found the severity of febrile seizures following vaccination is no different to febrile seizures from another cause, such as from a virus, and that the majority of seizures are short-lived, self-resolving and don't require ongoing treatment.

24 Apr 2019

Study: Measles outbreaks may become more frequent if vaccination rates continue to decline

In 2000, measles was declared to be eliminated in the United States, when no sustained transmission of the virus was seen in this country for more than 12 months.

19 Apr 2019

Measles epidemic kills over 1,200 in Madagascar

There have been a reported over 115,000 cases and over 1,200 deaths due to measles in Madagascar according to reports. This is one of the largest epidemics of a vaccine preventable viral disease in the recent times, say experts.

15 Apr 2019

Several low-and middle-income countries need more effective child vaccination strategies

A study by the University of Southampton shows that several low-and middle-income countries, especially in Africa, need more effective child vaccination strategies to eliminate the threat from vaccine-preventable diseases.

11 Apr 2019

New study provides overview of potential risks of vaccinating breastfeeding women

In light of the continuing anti-vaccination movement, a provocative new article provides a comprehensive overview of the potential risks of vaccinating breastfeeding women.

11 Apr 2019

New study reveals five facts about allergies to vaccines

There is little chance you are actually allergic to vaccines and, if you are, your allergist can give it to you. Only one in 760,000 vaccinations will respond with anaphylaxis. For all other side effects, there are ways around any problem.

8 Apr 2019

Exemptions surge as parents and doctors do ‘Hail Mary’ around vaccine laws

At two public charter schools in the Sonoma wine country town of Sebastopol, more than half the kindergartners received medical exemptions from state-required vaccines last school year.

5 Apr 2019

How easy are vaccine exemptions? Take a look at the Oregon model

As measles outbreaks continue in the Northwest and across the nation, newly revealed health records from Oregon suggest it's surprisingly easy to opt out of required vaccinations in that state — as in several others.

4 Apr 2019

Measles fear leads to a ban on unvaccinated children from public places

At Rockland county in New York City's northern regions, this week on Tuesday (26th March 2019), a ban was called into action. Children who are not vaccinated against measles are now banned to attend any public place. This comes as a result of the recent measles outbreaks which has caused more than 150 cases since last fall.

27 Mar 2019

Anti-vaxxer Italian leader down with chickenpox

In a twist of fate, an Italian politician who was lobbying against mandatory vaccination laws, has come down with chickenpox and is now hospitalized.

21 Mar 2019

Does it make sense to delay children’s vaccines?

When Elyse Imamura's son was an infant, she and her husband, Robert, chose to spread out his vaccinations at a more gradual pace than the official schedule recommended.

20 Mar 2019

Space worries - shingles affecting astronauts says NASA

NASA has come up with a warning about herpes zoster or shingles being activated among crew aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station missions. The problem was highlighted in a study that appeared in the latest issue of the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

19 Mar 2019

Italy bans unvaccinated children from school amid measles outbreak

Italian parents who have not had their children vaccinated could soon either have to pay hefty fines or see their children banned from school.

13 Mar 2019

New Zealand faces dangerous measles outbreak with 25 confirmed cases

New Zealand is facing a serious outbreak of measles with 25 confirmed cases. A nationwide alert has been sounded and vaccines against the viral disease are being sent to the affected areas.

12 Mar 2019