measles Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Washington State Response To 1st Coronavirus Case In U.S. Draws On Lessons From Measles Outbreak

By NPR News January 29, 2020

Tove Skaftun, the chief nursing officer for the Community Health Center of Snohomish County, points out a sign warning people who could have been exposed to the new coronavirus from China to identify themselves. CREDIT: Will Stone for NPR

When the first U.S. case of a new coronavirus spreading throughout China was confirmed last week in Washington state, public health workers were well prepared to respond, building on lessons learned during the outbreak of measles that sickened 87 people in the state in 2019.Read More

Samoa Arrests Anti-Vaccination Activist As Measles Death Toll Rises

By NPR News December 7, 2019

Red flags hang outside homes in Apia, Samoa, indicating that the residents have not been vaccinated for measles. CREDIT: Getty Images

Government officials say anti-vaccination advocates have complicated their efforts to turn the tide on an epidemic that has killed at least 63 people, most of them children.Read More

It’s Not Just Measles. What You Should Know About Vaccines For Adults

By NPR News May 15, 2019

Many people might not be aware of what types of vaccines they need as they get older. Here, an adult gets a flu shot in Jacksonville, Fla. CREDIT: RICK WILSON/AP IMAGES

Many people don't know which shots they need as they get older. And the vaccines can be tougher to keep track of because many adults go to the doctor less frequently than kids do.Read More

How Did We Get Here? 7 Things To Know About Measles

By NPR News April 30, 2019

An MMR vaccination, immunizing against measles, mumps and rubella, is seen in the Health and Prevention Centre in Lyon, France. BSIP/UIG via Getty Images

Americans could be forgiven for not knowing that much about measles. After all, it's been 51 years since an effective vaccine was introduced, quickly turning the disease from a common childhood experience to a rarity, and nearly two decades since the disease was declared eliminated from the U.S.Read More

Central Washington Health Officials Respond To Mumps Exposure In Farmworkers

By Anna King April 23, 2019

The Grant County, Washington, Health District is reponding to a mumps outbreak in the Mattawa area this week. CREDIT: GOOGLE MAPS

Health officials in Grant County, Washington are responding to four probable cases of mumps.Read More

Large Study Provides More Evidence That MMR Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism

By NPR News March 5, 2019

A large study released Monday finds no evidence that the vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella increases the risk of autism. The study of children born in Denmark is one of the largest ever of the MMR vaccine.Read More

States Move To Remove Vaccine Exemptions Amid Measles Outbreaks

By NPR News March 1, 2019

A combination vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella protects kids against all three illnesses with one shot. CREDIT: COURTNEY PERRY/THE WASHINGTON POST

All U.S. states require most parents to vaccinate their children against some preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough, to be able to attend school. Such laws often apply to children in private schools and day care facilities as well as public schools. But this winter's outbreaks of measles across the nation are resulting in challenges to Read More

Washington Lawmakers Weigh 2 Vaccine Exemption Bills

By NWPB News February 20, 2019

Opponents to efforts to remove philosophical exemptions from school-vaccine requirements rally outside the Washington Capitol, in Olympia, Wash., Wednesday, Feb. 20,2019. Lawmakers are considering two measures, one that would remove the exemption from the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and another that would not allow personal or philosophical exemptions to be granted for any required school vaccinations. CREDIT: RACHEL LA CORTE/AP

Two Washington legislative bills come amid an outbreak that has sickened at least 64 people in the state — all but one in Clark County — leading Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency.Read More

‘God Knows How I’m Still Alive.’ A Teen Decides To Get Vaccinated, Questioning Mother’s Judgment

By NWPB News February 11, 2019

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can cause serious health problems, including brain damage, deafness and, in rare cases, death. Vaccination can prevent measles infections. CREDIT: Eric Risberg/AP

Ethan Lindenberger is 18 years old, but had never received vaccines for diseases like hepatitis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, or the chickenpox. Lindenberger's mother, Jill Wheeler, is anti-vaccine. He said she has been influenced by online misinformation, such as a debunked study that claimed certain vaccines were linked with autism, or a theory that vaccines cause Read More

Washington Lawmakers Consider Bill Limiting Vaccine Exemptions Amid Measles Outbreak

By NWPB News February 8, 2019

Kebby Johnson, center, of Spokane, Wash., holds a sign that reads "Say No to HB 1638," as she waits in line, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, to attend a public hearing before the House Health Care & Wellness Committee at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Amid a measles outbreak that has sickened people in Washington state and Oregon, lawmakers heard public testimony Friday on a bill that would remove parents' ability to claim a philosophical exemption to opt their school-age children out of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN/AP

Amid a measles outbreak that has sickened more than 50 people in the Pacific Northwest, Washington lawmakers heard testimony Friday on a bill that would remove parents’ ability to claim a personal or philosophical exemption to opt their school-age children out of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.Read More

Amid Measles Outbreak, Washington Lawmakers Look To Change Who Can Opt Out Of Vaccines

By Derek Wang January 31, 2019

Jocelyn Smith cares for her 11-month-old son, Mason at their home in Camas, Washington, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Smith has been afraid to take Mason out of the house during a measles outbreak in southwest Washington because he is too young to receive the measles vaccine. CREDIT: GILLIAN FLACCUS/AP

As the number of cases and geographic reach expands in Southwest Washington’s measles crisis, state lawmakers are looking to revisit who can opt out of vaccinations.Read More

As Count Rises, Health Officials Say Measles Outbreak Could Last Months

By Kristian Foden-Vencil January 29, 2019

A sign prohibiting all children under 12 and unvaccinated adults stands at the entrance to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash. CREDIT: GILLIAN FLACCUS/AP

As the number of confirmed measles cases in Southwest Washington and Oregon grew to 36 cases, health authorities said Monday that their biggest concern is low vaccination rates in schools and the possibility that the crisis could stretch out for months. Read More

Texas Nurse Loses Job After Apparently Posting About Patient In Anti-Vaxxer Group

By NPR News August 29, 2018

A Texas Children's Hospital nurse allegedly described a young patient with the measles in a Facebook post affirming her opposition to vaccines. The hospital says patient privacy is a "top priority."Read More