The monthly Walk With a Doc Through the Park program resumes on Saturday morning at 8:45 at Vets Park where Dr. Jeff Penso, in a stroke of splendid timing, will discuss “The Meaning of Measles.”
The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of an infected person. It is highly contagious. Ninety percent of exposed people who are not immune will become infected, we are told.
Victims get high fever, then a rash. Measles can cause severe complications, like pneumonia and encephalitis (brain infection), which can lead to death. There is no treatment.
However children who are vaccinated (MMR vaccine) are at very low risk, especially if they receive two doses prior to kindergarten age.
Many parents have been wary of vaccines because of a 1998 study that claimed to link the MMR vaccine to autism. The assertion has been exposed as bogus. It was retracted five years ago. The author, an English physician, lost his medical license.
The recent Disneyland outbreak resulted from an exposed population of unvaccinated children, causing many parents and doctors powerful concern.
When introduced into low immunity groups, measles and other infections can be deadly. These germs wiped out 95 percent of Native Americans after the arrival of Europeans in the New World. It is incumbent on physicians and nurses to better educate friends and families, and to ensure protection of all children.
Finally
Warmup and stretching with Brandon Webb will precede the walk in Vets Park.
Ms. Elliott may be contacted at graceelliott@sbcglobal.net
