#StopAVN In Australian Doctor today:: Vax deniers blamed for measles surge 11 August, 2014 Michael Woodhead Vax deniers blamed for measles surge Vaccination deniers are being blamed for a resurgence in measles as rates of the disease exceed levels not seen since the 1990s. Australia is experiencing unprecedented levels of measles, with outbreaks occurring in most states and hundreds of cases seen for a disease that was in decline until a decade ago. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been 282 cases of measles notified already in 2014 — already well in excess of all years since 1998. In 2005 there were only 10 cases of measles in Australia, but rates have been increasing since then, with annual numbers around 150-200 in the past two years. In recent weeks, measles cases have been reported in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Queensland and the first cases in five years in Tasmania. In Western Australia, the AMA has criticised vaccination opponents after measles resurfaced in areas where is hasnt been seen since the 1990s. A measles infection case reported in Albany, related to a traveller from the Philippines, brought the number of cases in WA to 33 this year, compared to just four cases at the same time in 2013. AMA (WA) president Dr Michael Gannon blamed misinformation being spread by parents who do not believe in vaccinations. We have long been aware of a small minority of that are deniers of the clear science behind the value of vaccines, he told the ABC. Unfortunately there is a growing number of people that arent vaccinating their children. Perhaps they think theyre too busy. Dr Gannon believed younger parents might not take vaccines seriously enough because they did not have memories of the carnage preventable infections could cause. On its website, the Australian Vaccine Skeptics Network is promoting a book Melanies Marvellous Measles, which claims that measles is usually benign in healthy, well-nourished children. According to the AVSN, the book is for anyone who wants to help to reassure their children about being unvaccinated while many of their friends have had their shots. To date this year, there have been 282 measles cases reported in eight states and territories: NSW 61 Victoria 58 Queensland 52 NT 48 WA 37 SA 15 ACT 6 Tasmania 5 Total 282 (KMcL)
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:39:00 +0000
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