In 2019, Measles are breaking out in New York, with over 800 cases documented since this past January and counting. Though this may seem like an American issue, it is quite the opposite. There have been hundreds of reports of Measles in South Korea since the start of the year, and the number is on the rise around the world.
The Measles outbreak began in New York across very religious Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities with low vaccination rates. The disease was said to be extinct in the United States in the year 2000, but has since made a resurgence in 2019, and is terrorizing not only the United States, but the globe.
In South Korea, there has been 292 reported cases in April this year alone. Only 69 cases were reported over a similar time frame in South Korea in 2018. There were around 20 cases in 2016, 30 cases in 2017, and 353 total cases in 2018. Not even halfway through 2019, South Korea has surpassed the number of reported Measles in the past three years by hundreds.
Wreaking havoc across countries with low incomes such as Madagascar, Measles cases have been popping up and breaking out in other countries and nations such as Japan, Costa Rica, Canada, and the Philippines to name a few. In the Philippines, more than 12,000 cases of Measles have been recorded just this year. Measles outbreaks are making waves across the world this year.
Most reported cases in South Korea are said to be contracted when people travel overseas to places like Vietnam or the Philippines where the vaccination rate is low, and potential exposure to the disease is high. In the United States, the outbreak began in religious and cultural sects of New York with low vaccination rates. Whether contracted out of country or in country, these two nations are both having a Measles epidemic because of lack of vaccinations.
Vaccinations give immunity and protection from a wide variety of illnesses and diseases, but some refuse to vaccinate their children out of fear of adverse reactions to the medicines, or in the case of the United States, are religious and do not believe in vaccines. Not only does this put the child at risk, but their community as well. People who refuse to vaccinate, otherwise known as Anti-Vaxxers, are not the only reason Measles are on the rise.
Fear plays a large part in not vaccinating or getting vaccinated. Many refuse because they do not know what is in the vaccination. Some believing that vaccines cause Autism. Though there is no proof to back up this claim, many people refuse to vaccinate their children out of fear that their children may contract diseases like Autism.
To avoid confusion about vaccinations, better education and explanations to the public about what goes into their bodies may help increase the number of vaccinations, lowering the chances of epidemics like the Measles case. Vaccinations are extremely important in modern day society. Not just in South Korea and the United States, but around the globe. Vaccinate today, or you may find yourself with Measles tomorrow.
Written by Madison Fitzgerald | Staff Writer
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