Measles: Coming to a town near you!

We’ve been hearing a lot in the news lately about Measles. Many people read these articles and believe they are unbiased depictions of the world around us. But, the truth is, the articles contain both fact and conjecture thrown together with a pinch of persuasion. Media knows most people only read the first paragraph, or so, before forming an opinion and moving on to the next thing. Hence this post's satirical title--just an example of how to gain attention and persuade the audience using fear (or humor... too soon?). But, seriously, it really isn't funny at all. It's disturbing and harmful, and creates enemies where friends once existed. That being said—I’m not going to go through and defend or explicate these articles, instead, I want to offer some peace of mind regarding measles and some helpful ways to support the immune system, if measles lurks its ugly head close to home. 

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” -Marie Curie

First off, what is measles? If you ask your grandparents, or maybe even your own parents, they’ll probably shrug away your fears with the comment, “Measles? We had measles parties when I was a kid!” If you’re younger, you can equate this to chicken pox parties, which was, more recently, a rite of passage in childhood. In any case, here is a brief description of measles from the Center for Disease Control:
Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Also, measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. 
Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears. [Symptoms tend to improve within seven to ten days.]

Dr. Mercola wrote a great article titled “Measles — Everything You Need to Know About This Infection,” which is a great resource for understanding the disease:
Like the flu, it starts with a fever, muscle aches, cough and runny nose, but it is the inflamed or pink eyes and the white spots inside the mouth that give it away. Two to four days later, those who are infected will get a red, blotchy skin rash that will spread over their body.

In some cases, measles may lead to certain complications [these statistics are worldwide, not specific to the USA]:
• 1 out of every 10 infected children will develop an ear infection that can lead to permanent hearing loss [this is a treatable complication]
• 1 out of every 20 children with measles will get pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death from the infection in young children [again this too is treatable]
• 1 out of 1,000 people with measles can develop encephalitis (brain inflammation), which could lead to brain damage [This rare complication is most prevalent in malnourished individuals. Also worth noting, that encephalitis is also associated with the MMR vaccine. It's listed as an adverse reaction in the product information sheet.]

[In the United States, measles has a very low rate of serious complications.]

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that measles kills more than 100,000 people (mostly children under age 5), all over the world each year. But keep in mind that these deaths and complications mainly occur in undeveloped and developing countries with low incomes and weak health services, where poor nutrition is common because of poverty.

In fact, child mortality due to measles is 95 percent greater in malnourished children in less developed countries than those in developed ones. Once nutrition improves, complications and death are radically diminished.

Despite how mainstream media portrays this disease, measles mortality is actually quite rare in industrialized nations. In the U.S., the last documented deaths directly attributed to measles were in 2003, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One death was a child with a chronic disease who received a bone marrow transplant and was found post mortem to be positive for measles. The second death was a 75-year-old man from Israel, who had measles encephalitis and encephalopathy.

Only two deaths occurred in the U.S. because of measles complications in 2009. No deaths were seen in 2008, 2007 and 2006, and only one was recorded in 2005. (NOTE: One death of a person in 2015 who didn’t have classic measles symptoms was listed after an autopsy as dying from pneumonia as a complication of measles.)

The number that is most often used to scare us, which is the worldwide count of 100,000 deaths per year from measles, often fails to explain that the vast majority of these deaths are in developing countries where poor sanitation and malnutrition are rampant—not to mention supportive medical care in these areas is not to the same standards as the USA. It's deceptive to use this statistic to promote the MMR vaccine, or to use it to cultivate fear of measles. As you can see, it would be like comparing a blueberry to a basketball.

This is not to downplay those deaths that did occur in our country—any death is tragic.

When you consider that “between 2013 and 2015, 98 deaths following MMR vaccinations were reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), […and…]  there were 694 reports of MMR vaccinations that caused disability” (Ibid: Mercola), it becomes pretty clear that the preferred method for measles prevention, vaccination, actually causes more death and disability than the measles infection itself.

Fear tactics are a useful means for persuasion… let’s remove the fear so we can think clearly and critically. In the words of Dr. Rob Sears:

Fear measles? No. Not in the U.S.. Respect measles? Yes. Take appropriate precautions with it. But don't let anyone tell you, you should live in fear of it. Let's handle it calmly and without fear or blame.

Supporting the Immune System

The best way to stay healthy is to have a robust immune system. Supporting the immune system includes good nutrition, exercise, and managing stress. 

Dr. Mercola wrote another article titled, “How to Treat Measles — Natural Remedies to Beat This Disease.” It is a great resource for how to support the body during measles infection.

His article outlines several recommendations to be used during measles infection to lessen discomfort, speed up healing, and prevent complications:

• Stay home and get extra rest. [In order to prevent the spread of the infection, isolate yourself especially from those who are more at risk of complications, pregnant individuals, infants, and young children.]
• Rest your eyes — While you rest in a well-ventilated room, make sure to keep away from direct light as your eyes can get very sensitive. Keep the lights low and avoid watching too much TV, using gadgets or reading to prevent further eye irritation and fatigue.
• Seek respiratory relief — as the initial symptoms of measles resemble the flu, including fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and sore throat, using a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can help relax your airways, relieving cough and sore throat.
• Drink plenty of fluids — sip water and herbal tea at regular intervals during the day to replenish fluids lost from sweating and fever.

Apart from reducing your risk of dehydration, drinking fresh and organic citrus juices such as orange and lemon juice can counteract the loss of appetite brought on by the infection, and help boost your immunity with their vitamin C content.
Another healthy choice is coconut water, which is rich in nutrients that help rehydrate and cleanse your body of toxic elements. It is also rich in antioxidants that can help facilitate speedy recovery from the infection.

He also suggests a few natural remedies that may help induce a speedy recovery:
• Barley — It is packed with vitamin C, minerals and antioxidants, and aids in speeding up the healing process as it is also rich in zinc. Barley water can provide relief against dry, heavy coughs, while a barley bath helps soothe skin irritation and itching.
• Licorice root — You may drink powdered licorice root mixed with a little honey to relieve cough.
• Turmeric — With its antiseptic and antioxidant properties, this herb is effective in helping to alleviate the symptoms of measles. Turmeric powder mixed with milk can help improve your immunity. [See my post on Turmeric with recipe for Warm Golden Milk here: http://healthandvaccines.blogspot.com/2017/05/turmeric-miracle-root.html]
• Vitamin A — In developing countries there is a direct link between measles and vitamin A deficiency that can result in severe complications like eye problems or even vision loss [Xeropthalmia]. Measles is to blame for an estimated 15,000 to 60,000 cases of blindness in children living in low-income countries per year. […] To help combat visual loss related to measles, vitamin A supplements are often given to infected people, most especially children. This treatment has been shown to reduce the measles fatality rate by half. […]
[Regarding Vitamin A: “Vitamin A stops the measles virus from rapidly multiplying inside cells by up-regulating the innate immune system in uninfected cells, which helps to prevent the virus from infecting new cells. It is well known today that a low vitamin A level correlates with low measles-specific antibodies and increased morbidity and mortality. Vitamin A is a well-proven intervention for reduction of mortality, concomitant infections, and hospital stay” (Humphries, 391).]
• Vitamin C — Studies have shown that vitamin C delivered in megadoses before and after cold and flu symptoms relieves and prevents respiratory discomfort and symptoms.
[Regarding Vitamin C: “Vitamin C can also be used and during a measles epidemic was given prophylactically and all those who received as much as 1000 mg. every six hours, by vein or muscle, were protected from the virus. Given by mouth, 1,000 mg. in fruit juice every two hours was not protective unless it was given around the clock. It was further found that 1,000 mg. by mouth, four to six times each day, would modify the attack; with the appearance of Koplik's spots and fever, if the administration was increased to 12 doses each 24 hours, all signs and symptoms would disappear in 48 hours” (Humphries, 396).]

Most people make a full recovery from measles infection in developed countries (i.e. United States]. What’s more is they have earned the prize of lifetime immunity—a comprehensive immunity lasting 70 to 80 years! 

So, here’s the thing: you have to be sick, you have to go through it, before you can be done with it. 

I’m stating the obvious to say that the shortcut we’ve tried to create with vaccination is inadequate,  dangerous, and often not very effective for a disease that, in the majority of cases, resolves without complication (in our country).

Remember this:

• In a 10 year span: Between 2005 and 2015 there were 4 deaths from measles/complications from measles in the United States. 
• In a 2 year span: Between 2013 and 2015, there were 98 deaths associated with the MMR vaccine reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System in the United States.

In the United States, what do you think is the bigger public health issue?

[…] the best way out is always through.

And I agree to that, or in so far

As that I can see no way out but through

(http://www.bartleby.com/118/9.html, Frost, Robert, lines 56-58)

VaxTruth compiled a list of articles on measles for further reading: http://vaxtruth.org/2015/01/informational-articles-on-measles/

Sources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Transmission of Measles,  https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/transmission.html

2. Mercola, Dr. Joseph, “Measles — Everything You Need to Know About This Infection,”  http://articles.mercola.com/measles.aspx

3. Mercola, Dr. Joseph, “How to Treat Measles — Natural Remedies to Beat This Disease,”  http://articles.mercola.com/measles/treatment.aspx

4. Humphries, Dr. Suzanne, and Roman Bystrianyk, Dissolving Illusions: Disease, Vaccines, and the Forgotten History,  http://www.dissolvingillusions.com/

5. Casperson, Kate, "Turmeric: the miracle root," http://healthandvaccines.blogspot.com/2017/05/turmeric-miracle-root.html
6. FDA.gov. MMRII. Product Information Sheet . Dec. 2007. Online, Adverse reactions, Page 7,  https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM123789.pdf