Maeve Lyman wrote an article highlighting the issue of measles that is rapidly spreading across the United States. Measles is an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin, typically occurring in childhood. The last outbreak happened in 1994 but was ultimately gone and under control by 2000. But, since December of 2018, 839 cases of Measles have been filed.

This outbreak is mainly caused by travelers who leave the country, contract the disease and then bring it back into the United States and pass it on to others who have not been vaccinated. Although the amount of unvaccinated children is low (about 1.3%), it is still extremely dangerous because they are susceptible to extremely dangerous diseases that are very uncommon today.

A common misconception about vaccinations is that it causes autism.  A study was done in 2013 by CDC to research the connection between Autism Spectrum Disorder, also known as ASD. The results stated, “the total amount of antigen from vaccines received was the same between children with ASD and those that did not have ASD.”

Many assumptions are made about vaccination that are not true. But, even if they were, what is worse? A child with manageable diagnosis of autism or a child with multiple irreversible diseases that come without vaccination?

Maeve Lyman’s article is very important and addresses a serious issue in our country. Like Lyman said, pray for those who have not received their vaccinations.