The anti-vaxxer movement is responsible for the rise of measles

The rise of the anti-vaxxer movement is causing an alarming resurgence of deadly measles outbreaks worldwide, prompting an urgent warning from the World Health Organization (WHO). ) as to the need for immediate action.

The figures, released by the WHO this month, show that Europe has experienced a record number of people affected by measles in 2018, with experts accusing the anti-vaxxer messages of being ill. One of the main drivers of the outbreak.

"WHO urges European countries to target their interventions to places and groups where immunization gaps persist," the statement said.

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These "immunization gaps" are in areas of Europe where the anti-vaxxer movement may be most prevalent.

2018 had the most cases this decade

The report encouraged governments to "identify and treat all pockets of under-vaccination among their populations".

According to the statement, measles killed 72 children and adults in Europe last year.

"The total number of people infected with the virus in 2018 was the highest of this decade, and three times more than in 2017," the statement said.

Senior researcher Zsuzsanna Jakab said local immunization gaps "still provide an open door to the virus," referring to localized anti-vaxxer movements in the region.

"We can not reach healthier populations globally if we do not work locally," said Dr. Jakab.

"We must do more and do better to protect every person from diseases that can be easily prevented."

Measles makes a scary return. Source: provided.

Australia

Deadly measles outbreaks are also surfacing around the world, with scientists partly attributing the spike to the rise of anti-vaxxer groups.

In Australia, ACT registered its third case of measles in the first two months of 2019.

theCanberra Times reported that an infected resident of Canberra, who contracted the disease during a trip abroad, transited through Canberra Airport on Sunday, February 3 from 10am to 11am .

The New South Wales government also released its ninth health alert for measles in 2019 alone.

This occurs after a man, traveling in Sydney International Airport, has tested positive for highly contagious disease.

Mail-Mail have reported that Queensland teenagers are secretly vaccinated, despite the wishes of their anti-vaxxer parents, to protect themselves from deadly diseases.

Queensland law allows children over the age of 15 to be vaccinated.

Doctors call this group of teenagers followers of the "Generation V" vaccine.

Vaccines are the best way to protect people from these preventable diseases. Source: iStock.

philippines

The Philippines was hit by a deadly measles outbreak last month, killing at least 25 people, according to officials.

Tragically, the majority of people killed by the disease were children, and the authorities expect the balance sheet to increase.

Figures provided by national health authorities have shown that the number of measles cases has increased from 791 in 2017 to over 5000 last year.

In January alone, there were more than 1,800 cases.

Philippine undersecretary for health Eric Domingo told media last week that the population's vaccination rates have been declining over the past five years.

"In recent years, it was the Dengvaxia vaccine issue that helped," he said, referring to a recent public vaccination campaign that caused panic after the vaccine manufacturer revealed that his product could cause serious side effects.

Children must be vaccinated in Australia to go to daycare and get government rebates. Source: PAA

United States

The people of Washington are currently struggling with the most serious measles outbreak in the state for more than 20 years.

according to The Washington Postat least 56 people in Washington and Oregon have contracted the deadly disease in the last month.

Health authorities have declared a public health emergency and experts have predicted that the epidemic is still in its infancy.

The Douglas J. Opel pediatrician of the Seattle Children's Hospital has The Washington Post The "alarming" epidemic, which has affected many young children, has shown how powerful the anti-vaxxer movement is in the United States.

"Whenever we have an epidemic for which we have a safe and effective vaccine, it should trigger a red flag," he said.

Despite the state of crisis, large anti-vaxxer groups rallied in front of the White House to oppose a bill that would "prevent more families from evading the obligation." vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella ".

How to recognize the symptoms of measles. Source: Kidspot.

Anti-Vaxxers Ignore Evidence

The anti-vaxxer movement has become so prolific throughout the world in recent years, including in large parts of Australia, that WHO has issued public information kits and health professionals. on "how to respond to public deniers".

Information packs define terms such as vaccine refusers, skeptical about vaccines or members of one anti-vaccine movement and seek to explain how these groups work to change collective thinking.

"A vaccine carrier ignores any amount of evidence provided and criticizes the scientific approach as a whole," say the WHO's recommendations.

"In fact, vaccine deniers can even react in case of convincing arguments."

According to the WHO, vaccine manufacturers often distort rational science, censor or dissuade critics to avoid open discussions and attack scientists.

The badociation of the word "movement" with anti-vaxxers is misleading because it suggests that the group of immunization deniers is "a powerful, coordinated group, united by a shared collective identity".

"However, in most countries, vaccine refusers represent a small proportion of people for whom the reasons for not accepting vaccines are diverse," said the organization.

"These few dollars certainly do not represent a movement."