“Good job America, a deadly disease is back.” That will not be the first time throughout the U.S history that the phrase is said. This just further proves the point of why diseases still kill people in the 1st world; misinformation, and fear mongering. You’d expect living in the United States that people would try to prevent themselves from getting sick or carrying a disease on them. Apparently that doesn’t seem to be the case here anymore. All because of one group of people: Anti-Vaxxers

From the words of Hank Green, a vlogger, on the issue of usage of vaccinations, “We haven’t talked about the ‘vaccine debate’ on Sci-Show here, because there is no debate to have.”

Measles (rubeola) is a potentially fatal disease that was thought to be for the most part eradicated and eliminated in many, if not all first-world countries. People that talk about this disease generally have no idea what they’re saying or are pulling information from some of the most un-credible sources on the internet. (*cough* tumblr *cough*) This virus is EASILY preventable by vaccination. Unfortunately, some people don’t seem to believe that it’s healthy for their child because it “has a chance to cause autism spectrum disorders.” (Spoiler alert. It doesn’t.)

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that vaccinations cause autism spectrum disorder. There is some evidence that shows the rise of autism disorder is caused by better ways of diagnosing it and not actually from any medical practice. What most people seem to not understand is the science behind vaccinations or autism. Most people already know about autism so I’m not going to bother to explain, but vaccines work by putting a copy of a heavily weakened strain of the virus into you. This allows the white-blood cells and T-cells figure out how to manipulate and kill the infection. Antibodies are released and your body now knows how to kill the infection when you come into contact, in other words, making you “immune.”

Let’s take a moment and step back and see what Measles really does to a person. A YouTube channel “Kurz Gesagt” made a video recently about the virus and the effects on the immune system and body. They said the following:

Stage 1: Measles latches onto the human cells because it’s a virus, infecting other cells and sneaking it’s way into the lymph node. While it’s on the move you might not even feel the symptoms until days later.

Stage 2: Lymph system now infected, the virus rapidly spreads from cell to cell and in the blood stream infecting organs such as, lungs, liver, kidneys. A rash develops and bronchitis like effects start to happen within the lungs. Every time you cough, you’re projecting the virus into open air. Measles are able to survive a long time not being in contact with a host cell. A statistic that they showed to go along with the contagiousness is a 90% chance of being infected when coming into contact with someone who has measles, if you’re not vaccinated.

Stage 3: Entire immune system is starting to fail, plenty of other bacterial disease rush into your body causing widespread pneumonia. Organs can start to fail during this stage and even some of the virus makes it way to the brain causing a brain infection. Another statistic they gave was a “20-40% chance of death.” Even if you do survive brain damage most likely occurs.

Stage 4: Last ditch effort made by immune system to try and kill the infection, if your immune system finds out how to make antibodies they then spread into your body wiping out the virus and perhaps even damaging some parts in the process of survival.

Stage 5: If you do somehow survive then you are now officially immune to the virus, but your body is extremely weakened to other diseases entering the body and potential death can also be caused.

Or, instead of all this having to happen you could go to your Doctor and get vaccinated if you haven’t already. In Fact, most schools around the world and in the U.S do not allow students not protected against preventable diseases allowed in the school if they are able to get the vaccine.

FAQ:

Q: What if I can’t get the vaccine because of being allergic to it?

A: Other versions of the vaccine are available with the compound that you could be allergic to removed, if that doesn’t work the method of herd immunity will keep you safe. If everyone else is vaccinated the virus can’t spread to you if everyone else is immune.

Q: THEY PUT A LIVE VIRUS IN YOU?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

A: Don’t get your cinnamons in a twist, they put a mostly dead version into you. It can cause minor symptoms such as a small fever or cough but you’re not infectious at all. It’s just the body responding to it until it can create antibodies.

Q: Am I a “bad” person if I still believe that vaccines even though evidence clearly suggests that there is no correlation, and that I don’t care for my child’s safety or any other child in any school?

A: To make it simple, yes.

Don’t believe everything you see on the internet, be safe and smart and don’t spread a disease. Do it for the greater good please, of the less fortunate that are not able to be vaccinated and need your help so they do not run the risk of having Measles.