As the cases of measles increase in Texas, health officials stimulate alarms on a disturbing trend: parents intentionally expose their children to the virus in the so-called “parts of measles” in the hope of building natural immunity. While some believe that this approach imitates the immunity acquired by past infections, experts warn that it is a dangerous bet that could have fatal consequences.
The parts of measles are inspired by chickenpox rallies of the 1970s, where unvaccinated children were deliberately exposed to the virus in the hope of developing immunity at a young age where the disease was considered softer. However, experts warn that this approach is much more dangerous with regard to the measles virus.
Dr. Ron Cook, director of health at Texas Tech University Health Science Center, calls for measles in measles “a stupid thing” because the virus is very unpredictable, and there is no way to determine how serious infection will be.
“We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized, and potentialy get pneumonia or enceceptitis and or pass away from this. It is just too much risky … we don it get to pick and choose who is goo to do well and not do Well you you are don’t do that, it’s just folishness, it’s playing roulette, “Dr Cook Said in a press conference.
About 30% of children who contract measles can develop complications and infection can lead to long-term health consequences, he warned.
“There are serious results such as pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or brain inflammation. Even rarer, but it can happen … years later after developing measles, you can get what is called sububiguë sclerosing panencephalites, which is fatal. It is a known side effect to have measles,” added Dr Cook.
Texas health officials also warn that the intentionally exposure of children to the measles virus does not simply endanger them, he endangered others not vaccinated Individuals and those who have weakened immune systems, increasing the potential for serious complications and epidemics.
The safest way to protect yourself from measles is to be vaccinated. The reception of two doses of the ROR vaccine provides a protection of 97% against measles, which considerably reduces the risk of infection and serious complications. Without immunity, almost everyone exposed to measles will contract it, and once infected, there is no specific treatment to cure the disease.
(Tagstotranslate) Parts of measles