# The benefits of having measles **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940 "2015-02-06T03:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Onyerbike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onyerbike/32/5402_2.png) [@Onyerbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onyerbike)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/61 "2015-02-10T11:25:55Z")
My theory is that the humidity of Queensland drove this lady to madness first and then book writing second. Uh huh - a tragic condition alright, and we should all feel sympathy for this person. That she managed to use actual words to write a book at all in her condition is amazing, and should be applauded. A vaccine that prevents this horrible disease should be our top priority! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/62 "2015-02-10T12:04:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My friend was born a little before me and one of the last in the USA to have Polio- I was vaccinated, he got hit before the vaccine. I actually got the shot. I have an older friend in a wheelchair because of polio. To me this is all as nuts as Christian Scientists refusing basic medical treatment. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/63 "2015-02-10T12:48:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yep, been there, done that, got it, not happy. Chickenpox= not fun. Mumps= not fun. Measles= not fun. I actually had an anti-vaxxer try to argue that the measles isn’t such a bad disease, because look at _The Brady Bunch_ episode where all the kids had it, and they just stayed home from school, and played games, while their parents spoiled them. :smack: > [@curlcoat](#): > > > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > > > Later, she had something like strep throat (at a pretty advanced age to have one-- it’s mostly infants and toddlers who get them), > > I’ve had strep throat 4-5 times as an adult, as well as having it as a child. One doctor indicated that there is a genetic component to getting it over and over, tho I don’t know if that’s true. My brother and I each had a “follow up” disease after a bout with strep as well. My last strep was 2011, so I’m hoping that is it! I meant she was at an advanced age to have a febrile seizure. That’s why the parentheses. Not an advanced age to have strep. I had strep last year, when I was 47. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/64 "2015-02-10T15:02:17Z")
If you want a weapon against the anti-vaxers on Measles; > **[Measles](https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles)** > > Measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. “In 2013, there were 145,700 measles deaths globally – about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour.” (I added the comma in the number for our American sensibilities.) So yeah, _only_ 140,000+ people DIE from it each year. Harmless as they come. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [February 10, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/65 "2015-02-10T17:35:37Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > “In 2013, there were 145,700 measles deaths globally – about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour.” (I added the comma in the number for our American sensibilities.) > > So yeah, _only_ 140,000+ people DIE from it each year. Harmless as they come. :rolleyes: Well gosh, don’t you know those deaths are really caused by poverty and malnutrition? How come we aren’t eliminating those factors instead of injecting those little babies’ bodies with CHEMICAL TOXINS!\* In other news, there’s been a major nutbag eruption over the media’s cruel, cruel treatment of Rand Paul due to his antivaccine remarks. Well-known conspiracy loon Alex Jones (on whose show Rand Paul appeared in 2009, comparing mandatory vaccination to “martial law”) [experienced unfortunate side effects](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/02/04/alex-jones-defends-listener-rand-paul-on-vaccin/202411) to a broadcast on CNBC: _"Alex Jones defended ally and “listener” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) from media attacks over his controversial vaccination remarks by lashing out at a CNBC anchor who challenged Paul. Jones, who helped Paul get elected to the Senate in 2010, called CNBC’s Kelly Evans a “whore” and “pimp” for “signing on to a system of murder, you little piece of trash, tramp, filth, scum woman!”_ Let’s hope Alex doesn’t get wind of what **LavenderBlue** and **Kolga** are up to. \*sorry, channeling antivaxers, it happens when I least expect it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/66 "2015-02-10T19:32:36Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > You get to stay home from school and play for a week! What’s to complain about? Sometimes you even get to stay home from school for the rest of your life ! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/67 "2015-02-10T19:53:24Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Let’s hope Alex doesn’t get wind of what **LavenderBlue** and **Kolga** are up to. Alex Jones is a complete coward so he would do nothing more than froth and spit. Who loses against people with even 1/2 brain’s worth of knowledge on the facts and he is the guy who thinks he is winning because someone walks away from his tauts rather than start trouble. (see his behavior at Ground Zero for examples). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/68 "2015-02-10T20:02:35Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > If you want a weapon against the anti-vaxers on Measles; > > [Measles](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/) > > “In 2013, there were 145,700 measles deaths globally – about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour.” (I added the comma in the number for our American sensibilities.) > > So yeah, _only_ 140,000+ people DIE from it each year. Harmless as they come. :rolleyes: They’ll just point to their [deceptive, loathesome graphs](http://www.software3d.com/Home/Vax/Graphs.php) and claim that measles was going away on its own. It ridiculous. The anti-vaxxers are presently trying to claim that vaccine ‘shedding’ is what caused the outbreak. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/69 "2015-02-10T20:12:12Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > If you want a weapon against the anti-vaxers on Measles; > > [Measles](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/) > > “In 2013, there were 145,700 measles deaths globally – about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour.” (I added the comma in the number for our American sensibilities.) > > So yeah, _only_ 140,000+ people DIE from it each year. Harmless as they come. :rolleyes: Funny thing is - the link that **vivalostwages** posted - shows some of these nutballs think that page supports their position: > **[Natural Whole Healthy You | livingwhole.org](https://livingwhole.org)** > > Learn about the many benefits of essential oils. From improved sleep quality to boosted focus and reduced stress levels, essential oils are well worth > [@](#): > > If you still can’t wrap your mind around the fact that nutrition plays a role, ask yourself how many people you have met with scurvy? Black plague? Tuberculosis? Even the World Health Organization says severe measles can be prevented by vitamin A. Get on board with the science my friends. And there is a link to the same page you linked to. What WHO actually says is: > [@](#): > > Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases. > … > All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart. This treatment restores low vitamin A levels during measles that occur even in well-nourished children and can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplements have been shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%. I’m not sure how one can gloss over all the bad things on that page to think that Vitamin A can prevent measles. Next thing you’ll hear is the saying their kids don’t have AIDs - so they are safe. While it certainly is nice that vitamin A can cut death rates by 50% - if only there was another way - scientists should come up a shot that can prevent deaths in 95% plus cases after one shot and almost all after two. The saddest thing I’ve heard recently (on freakonomics podcast) - I don’t have a cite - is that when presented with scientific evidence about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines - antivaxers become even more hardened in their beliefs and are even less likely to vaccinate afterwards. What hope do we have? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/70 "2015-02-10T20:27:51Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > The saddest thing I’ve heard recently (on freakonomics podcast) - I don’t have a cite - is that when presented with scientific evidence about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines - antivaxers become even more hardened in their beliefs and are even less likely to vaccinate afterwards. > > What hope do we have? You don’t try to convince the anti-vaxxers. They are essentially emotionally invested to the point where they have made decisions about it - decisions which could have put their child (and other children) at risk so they try to justify it by all means. Just make sure that the ones sitting on the fence see who has all the facts and who is just batshit crazy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940/71 "2015-02-10T21:17:26Z")
[Did you really think it couldn’t get any worse?](http://www.salon.com/2015/02/10/the_way_god_intended_california_parents_are_having_measles_parties_instead_of_vaccinating_their_kids/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benefits-of-having-measles/711940.md?page=3)