Whooping cough commonly kills newborns but can be prevented through vaccination and avoiding infected individuals. Measles, which made the headlines recently with a large outbreak traced to Disneyland, is also deadly and similarly preventable with vaccination. But people are not vaccinating as they should be. While it’s a matter of personal choice, it’s also a serious matter of public health, and these preventable and deadly diseases are roaring back to life.
Measles was eliminated in the United States in 2000. However, between 2013 and 2014 the incidence of measles in the United States tripled — to more than 600 cases. This figure may not be the world tally of 400 people a day dying from the disease, but it is unacceptable. And the scenario for whooping cough? 2012 saw nearly 50 times as many cases as the low in 1976, and 2014 data will likely be worse.
As a mom whose 3-month-old daughter got whooping cough, I can get riled up about people choosing not to vaccinate themselves or their children.
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