# Disneyland Measles Outbreak **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529 "2015-01-21T23:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/1 "2015-01-21T23:14:36Z")
At this point there have been [54 confirmed cases of measles](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-disneyland-measles-outbreak-20150121-story.html), with the outbreak originating at Disneyland (although at this point some of the patients received their infection from others, not at Disneyland). Disneyland is the perfect place to spread measles: [ol] [li]You have a lot of people in pretty close contact[/li][li]There are people from foreign countries where measles is still endemic[/li][li]It’s in California, where a bunch of fuckwads think that not vaccinating their kids is good health practice (OK, to be fair, there are other states with that problem too)[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/2 "2015-01-21T23:22:19Z")
Mickey Measles is a popular character. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/3 "2015-01-21T23:40:15Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Mickey Measles is a popular character. Roger Myers Jr. would like to have a word with you. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/4 "2015-01-21T23:47:20Z")
N.B. all vacation-planners: Disney **land** is in California. Walt Disney **World** is here in Florida, aaaaaallllllll the way over on the other side of the country, where there are **no** recent measles, cholera, typhus, ebola, or zombie-virus outbreaks that we haven’t managed to hush up so far. Come to the Sunshine State! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/5 "2015-01-21T23:59:44Z")
> [@buddy431](#): > > Disneyland is the perfect place to spread measles LEGOLAND is worse! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/6 "2015-01-22T00:41:21Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Mickey Measles is a popular character. Mr. Meningitis’ Wild Ride is a famous Disneyland attraction, along with the Mumps Fun Wheel, Hemophilus Influenzae Tower of Terror, Rubellaland and the Mad Cow Party. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/7 "2015-01-22T01:17:45Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Mr. Meningitis’ Wild Ride is a famous Disneyland attraction, along with the Mumps Fun Wheel, Hemophilus Influenzae Tower of Terror, Rubellaland and the Mad Cow Party. Just steer clear of the whole Fleshrot Center. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/8 "2015-01-22T02:36:02Z")
Way to go, anti-vaccine asshats. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Walt Disney **World** is here in Florida, aaaaaallllllll the way over on the other side of the country, where there are **no** recent measles, cholera, typhus, ebola, or zombie-virus outbreaks that we haven’t managed to hush up so far. How could you\*\*\* tell\*\*\*, anyway? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/9 "2015-01-22T02:49:17Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > How could you\*\*\* tell\*\*\*, anyway? 😛 Easy. Retirees drop 73% less flesh per month than zombies. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/10 "2015-01-22T03:05:02Z")
Dr. Bob Sears throws in his idiotic thoughts about measles. From his Facebook page: > [@](#): > > DR. BOB’S DAILY: > JUST HOW DEADLY IS MEASLES? > > What makes measles so scary? What is it about measles that spreads fear and dread through our population? Three things, in my opinion, set it apart from most infectious diseases that make us afraid: 1. It’s untreatable, and it has a high rate of complications, so we are at it’s mercy, 2. It’s been virtually eliminated from the U.S., so we aren’t used to it anymore, and 3. It’s potentially fatal. > > Now, let’s play two truths and a lie. Two of these statements are true, and one is not. Well, the one that is not is technically true, but it’s not true in all practical terms. > > 1. Untreatable? Correct. There is no anti-viral medication that will help, so we just have to stand by as the disease runs its course. We are powerless, and that creates fear. We don’t want to take a risk with something which we have no way to mitigate or control. The only thing that may make measles less severe is high dose Vitamin A therapy (which is approved by the WHO). But that’s not an anti-viral med; it just helps us fight it off a little better. > > Complications? Ear infection is the most likely complication - treatable. Pneumonia is next - also treatable. Ya, you don’t want those things to happen, but they are treatable. Encephalitis? That’s much worse. Fortunately it’s extremely rare in well-nourished people (see below). > > So, the lie is that measles has a high rate of serious complications. It doesn’t. It CAN, but it rarely does. > > 1. Eliminated? Virtually. Over the past 20 years we’ve sometimes only had 50 cases a year. Sometimes 150. Nobody knows measles anymore, and when we are ignorant of something unfamiliar, we fear it until we understand it. > > Ask any Grandma or Grandpa (well, older ones anyway), and they’ll say “Measles? So what? We all had it. It’s like Chicken pox.” Ask a twenty-five-year-old mom with two young kids, and she’ll scoop up her kids and run away from you for even mentioning the M word. > > If you understand measles, you wouldn’t fear it. Respect it. > > I do acknowledge that it’s a public health nightmare in that it takes a lot of effort and money to contain these outbreaks. And it causes a lot of people to get tested, quarantined, or treated with preventive immune globulin shots. It’s no joke. But, those efforts are largely because we are trying to contain it, not because it’s going to kill everybody. So, not fear - respect. > > 1. Potentially fatal? Technically true, but herein lies the lie. It’s been publicized as “the deadliest of all childhood fever/rash illness with a high rate of complications.” Deadly? Not in the U.S., or any other developed country with a well-nourished population. The risk of fatality here isn’t zero, but it’s as close to zero as you can get without actually being zero. It’s 1 in many thousands. Will someone pass away in the U.S. from measles one of these years? Tragically yes. That will likely happen to one person. It hasn’t happened here in at least ten years (or more - I don’t even know how many years we have to go back to find one). When that happens, it will be extremely tragic. > > But will it spread through the U.S. and kill people left and right? No. Does measles do that in underdeveloped countries? Sadly, yes. It kills countless people worldwide every year. So, that’s how health officials can accurately say it’s so deadly. They don’t have to tell you the whole truth, just the part of the truth that they want you to believe. > > Measles can also be serious for young infants, just as many diseases can. It can also be serious for immunocompromised people, just as all illnesses. It can also cause pregnancy complications, just like many infections can. Measles isn’t unique in these risks. But they are risks nonetheless. > > So, 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. > > I will keep you up to date in the weeks to come. > Dr. Bob Respect measles people. Don’t fear it. Respect it. Grant it the same respect you might give a certain fear mongering, irresponsible doctor. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/11 "2015-01-22T03:14:39Z")
[quote=“buddy431, post:1, topic:710529”] [li]There are people from foreign countries where measles is still endemic[/li][/QUOTE] Just curious if this is actually true? I’m assuming most are 3rd world countries with low vaccination rates (without checking places like Pakistan and Niger). Most folks from those places can’t get visa’s much less go to Disneyland. Andrew Wakefield should be tarred and feathered. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/12 "2015-01-22T04:41:47Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Just curious if this is actually true? Sort of true. There are a fair number of immigrants who go back to their home countries to visit and bring unwanted visitors back with them. And a lot of times, the disease comes back from places you wouldn’t normally suspect, like Europe. They got their fair share of unvaccinated idiots, too. But you’re right that the main problem are the fucktards who can’t be bothered with vaccinating. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/13 "2015-01-22T04:54:14Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > LEGOLAND is worse! I’m trying to think of how I might catch an STD from a Lego figurine and, frankly, I’m seeing a better chance of transmission if my partner is Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Bugs, Tweetie, Betty Boop, or practically anything else but Lego Person. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/14 "2015-01-22T04:57:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’m trying to think of how I might catch an STD from a Lego figurine and, frankly, I’m seeing a better chance of transmission if my partner is Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Bugs, Tweetie, Betty Boop, or practically anything else but Lego Person. Mmmmm… Betty Boop! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/15 "2015-01-22T05:10:02Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Dr. Bob Sears throws in his idiotic thoughts about measles. From his Facebook page: \ > Respect measles people. Don’t fear it. Respect it. Grant it the same respect you might give a certain fear mongering, irresponsible doctor. Good grief, some of the people commenting on that post are (or should be) terminally stupid.:smack::smack: How in hell do you and \*\*Kolga \*\*stand it? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/16 "2015-01-22T12:50:39Z")
It’s those bastards Sneezy and Drippy who’re spreading it. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/17 "2015-01-22T13:45:36Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Dr. Bob Sears throws in his idiotic thoughts about measles. From his Facebook page… I’m of the generation that got measles, mumps & chicken pox as a matter of course. (The last generation?) Before those vaccinations. Mumps hurt & chicken pox itched. I don’t remember measles as being worse, but I do remember lying in a darkened room, forbidden to read. And my mother & grandmother checking on me quite often. They didn’t want me to think they were frightened, but even I could tell they were extra concerned. They took me for an eye exam later, to be sure my sight was OK… From Dr Asshat’s comment: > [@](#): > > But will it spread through the U.S. and kill people left and right? No. Does measles do that in underdeveloped countries? Sadly, yes. It kills countless people worldwide every year. So, that’s how health officials can accurately say it’s so deadly. They don’t have to tell you the whole truth, just the part of the truth that they want you to believe. > > Measles can also be serious for young infants, just as many diseases can. It can also be serious for immunocompromised people, just as all illnesses. It can also cause pregnancy complications, just like many infections can. Measles isn’t unique in these risks. But they are risks nonetheless. So, measles mostly kills foreigners, so that’s OK. The occasional baby or fetus? Just fine, according to him. And those people with bad immune systems? They’re sickies anyway… ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/18 "2015-01-22T14:18:08Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Good grief, some of the people commenting on that post are (or should be) terminally stupid.:smack::smack: > > How in hell do you and \*\*Kolga \*\*stand it? The idea was to write a book and walk away . . . um yeah. I am mad at him because I personally wrote to him: \*\*“Dr. Sears, there’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines in this thread. Could you please help correct some of this misinformation? Thank you.” \*\* Dr. Putz replied to me: **“Hey I just don’t have the time to do that. I work full time in the office and have three kids and a wife. I just have to leave the debating to those who have time.”** Those are his actual words. So Dr. Putz has the time to write up crap but he won’t take the time to correct misconceptions about his crap. He did have time to write up the following awful response. Bear in mind this isn’t just any doctor. This is the son of a famous pediatrician. His father is very respected. The son decided to capitalize on his father’s fame by pandering to anti-vaxxers. He wrote a book in which in he promotes an alternative vaccine schedule. This schedule has no basis in fact. In an [article](http://www.aap.org/en-us/professional-resources/practice-support/Vaccine-Financing-Delivery/Pages/The-Problem-with-Dr-Bobs-Alternative-Vaccine-Schedule.aspx) in the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Paul Offitt pointed out the problems with this schedule. Dr. Bob’s response to his post was to throw a hissy fit on Facebook. > [@](#): > > DR. BOB’S DAILY: > PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: GET YOUR VACCINE > > So, I broke one of the cardinal rules of infectious disease journalism, a rule that I didn’t know existed, but in hindsight is now as obvious as the nose on my face (ya, I was teased a lot about that as a kid). Apparently, the rule is this: When one writes anything about a vaccine-preventable disease, one MUST, without fail, include a statement reminding people to get that vaccine; failure to do so will be interpreted as a declaration against said (or NOT said, I guess) vaccine. People are generally stupid, so one must remind them frequently about vaccines. > > So, when I posted a very brief discussion of the disease measles on Friday, which, in no way, claimed to be a complete discussion of all the issues, but failed to remind people there’s a vaccine (because everyone probably forgot about the vaccine, I know), what I was really saying in secret, if you read between the lines, is “don’t get the vaccine.” At least, that’s how stupid people took it. > > I know I know. My mom taught me never to use the “S” word. But isn’t it ok to use when people really are stupid? I don’t know. You decide. Oh, and since I did mention the “M” word in this post, let me also remind everyone that there is a vaccine against measles. Get it. > > Oh, and just to be complete, since I mentioned the “S” disease as well, let me remind you that there is a vaccine to prevent stupid. If you haven’t gotten it already, you should. > > Dr. Bob If you read the comments on his Facebook page, you’ll see that people are NOT getting the vaccine. Here’s a man who could correct this problem. He could write up a post on common vaccine misconceptions. They would listen to him. And what does he do? ignores them. He could even pay a student a lousy twenty bucks to do it for him. But he won’t. This is the face of a measles promoter in our society. This is a doctor, a respected doctor from a respected family. And he’s refusing to help protect our society against the spread of a nasty disease. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/19 "2015-01-22T14:31:05Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > The idea was to write a book and walk away . . . um yeah. > > I am mad at him because I personally wrote to him: > > \*\*“Dr. Sears, there’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines in this thread. Could you please help correct some of this misinformation? Thank you.” \*\* > > Dr. Putz replied to me: > > **“Hey I just don’t have the time to do that. I work full time in the office and have three kids and a wife. I just have to leave the debating to those who have time.”** > > Those are his actual words. So Dr. Putz has the time to write up crap but he won’t take the time to correct misconceptions about his crap. > > He did have time to write up the following awful response. Bear in mind this isn’t just any doctor. This is the son of a famous pediatrician. His father is very respected. The son decided to capitalize on his father’s fame by pandering to anti-vaxxers. He wrote a book in which in he promotes an alternative vaccine schedule. This schedule has no basis in fact. In an [article](http://www.aap.org/en-us/professional-resources/practice-support/Vaccine-Financing-Delivery/Pages/The-Problem-with-Dr-Bobs-Alternative-Vaccine-Schedule.aspx) in the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Paul Offitt pointed out the problems with this schedule. > > Dr. Bob’s response to his post was to throw a hissy fit on Facebook. > > If you read the comments on his Facebook page, you’ll see that people are NOT getting the vaccine. Here’s a man who could correct this problem. He could write up a post on common vaccine misconceptions. They would listen to him. And what does he do? ignores them. He could even pay a student a lousy twenty bucks to do it for him. But he won’t. This is the face of a measles promoter in our society. This is a doctor, a respected doctor from a respected family. And he’s refusing to help protect our society against the spread of a nasty disease. I didn’t just read the comments, I’ve responded to a few. Now I’m a BIG PHARMA shill and a Toddler Bully. I am also amused. Personally, I kinda wish Australia had never been settled by humans, because then it would be available to dump all the extremists of whatever ilk and leave them to sort themselves out without bothering the rest of us. On the other hand, that would kill any chance of my ever petting a koala, so maybe it’s for the best. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529/20 "2015-01-22T16:58:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > N.B. all vacation-planners: Disney **land** is in California. Walt Disney **World** is here in Florida, aaaaaallllllll the way over on the other side of the country, where there are **no** recent measles, cholera, typhus, ebola, or zombie-virus outbreaks that we haven’t managed to hush up so far. Come to the Sunshine State! 🙂 There could be ten more outbreaks in Disneyland and I’d still go to California over Florida. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyland-measles-outbreak/710529.md?page=2)