Measles kill over 1,000 DR Congo children since January: UN

[MsFortune]

"A measles epidemic has killed 1,145 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January, the UN's Humanitarian Affairs mission in Kinshasa said Monday.

The epidemic "has already affected 115,600 children and killed 1,145" between January and June, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.

This prompted the vaccination of 3.1 million children across five provinces it added.

http://news.yahoo.com/measles-kill-over-1-000-dr-congo-children-202705179.html

[babygirlie]

maybe someone got vaccinated and spread the disease around.

So .9%  POINT 9 percent died but 99.1% were ok.

It's a tough call regardless of what you believe

Edited by babygirlie - 7/27/11 at 2:04am

[LiLStar]

Okay, I don't vax, and I'd much rather my kid catch measles than be vaccinated for it... But 2% die from getting vaccines?! 2 out of every 100 kids? No.. I don't buy it. 

[babygirlie]

Your right I did my math wrong.

[Gismobabe]

2 out of 100 die maybe in Africa where the Measles are added to malnutrition, starvation, various tropical diseases and HIV. In the statistics you can use any one of these causes as the cause of death. Sending our vaccines there is not going to solve the problem.

[purslaine]

Originally Posted by Gismobabe 

2 out of 100 die maybe in Africa where the Measles are added to malnutrition, starvation, various tropical diseases and HIV. In the statistics you can use any one of these causes as the cause of death. Sending our vaccines there is not going to solve the problem.

Not 2%.  That was from some other (since edited) figure.  0.9% died of measles in the congo.

It is possible some vaccines may be useful in some parts of the developing world - but yes, access to things such as decent healthcare, nutrition, sanitation etc  are more essential.  

Edited by purslaine - 7/27/11 at 5:59am

[MsFortune]

Ah.  So we should sit on our hands and do nothing.  Got it.  
 

Originally Posted by Gismobabe 

2 out of 100 die maybe in Africa where the Measles are added to malnutrition, starvation, various tropical diseases and HIV. In the statistics you can use any one of these causes as the cause of death. Sending our vaccines there is not going to solve the problem.

[purslaine]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

Ah.  So we should sit on our hands and do nothing.  Got it.  
 

Did she say that?  What are you doing?  

[MsFortune]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

Did she say that?  What are you doing?  

Advocating and supporting more widespread vaccination

[japonica]

That's terrible. Are they supplementing with vitamin A at least to mitigate complications? 

[ammiga]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

Ah.  So we should sit on our hands and do nothing.  Got it.  
 

It's not like the only two choices are vaccinate or "sit on our hands and do nothing".

[purslaine]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

Advocating and supporting more widespread vaccination

How does advocating and supporting vaccination here help the Congo?
 

Originally Posted by ammiga 

It's not like the only two choices are vaccinate or "sit on our hands and do nothing".

Agreed.
 

[Lovemy3girls]

Originally Posted by Gismobabe 

Sending our vaccines there is not going to solve the problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

It is possible some vaccines may be useful in some parts of the developing world - but yes, access to things such as decent healthcare, nutrition, sanitation etc  are more essential.  

I agree with you here. As for advocating more widespread vaccination, it's a band-aid and is not addressing the true causes behind the terribly high mortality of not just measles in Africa, but other diseases such as polio, malaria, cholera, etc. There's a lot more going on than the public is told. There is also widespread environmental degradation and pollution being heaped on top of the malnutrition and poverty. What about advocating widespread environmental clean up, soil remineralization, and more equal distribution of wealth and resources? That would certainly help.

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/PhilanthropyGatesStyle.php 

[Turquesa]

 

Misrepresenting Gismobabe, whose post neither states nor implies anything about "sit[ing] on our hands and do[ing] nothing." 

Gismobabe's mention of convoluting factors affecting the data on these deaths--starvation, malnutrition, and, I'd add, lack of adequate health care--is a salient point...and one that I'm not hearing addressed. 

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

Did she say that?  What are you doing?  

[MsFortune]

Originally Posted by Lovemy3girls 
 not addressing the true causes behind the terribly high mortality of not just measles in Africa, 

you know what the true causes of the mortality caused by measles is?

measles.

[zylph]

I agree with you here. As for advocating more widespread vaccination, it's a band-aid and is not addressing the true causes behind the terribly high mortality of not just measles in Africa, but other diseases such as polio, malaria, cholera, etc. There's a lot more going on than the public is told. There is also widespread environmental degradation and pollution being heaped on top of the malnutrition and poverty. What about advocating widespread environmental clean up, soil remineralization, and more equal distribution of wealth and resources? That would certainly help.

True.  But there would have to be some extremely drastic changes in the way the world works for that to be true.  And if you truly want a more equal distribution of wealth/resources, you should be begging for vaccines.  You live in a country where computers, cars, doctors, and antibiotics are the standard.  Most people are healthy, and there's an effective health care system - you might disagree with me on that point, but I've worked in places like Zambia and Uganda.  A hospital with no antibiotics in the storeroom is an example of an ineffective health care system.  It is possible to address the problems of polio, cholera, and measles almost solely by environmental and medical measures - hygiene, cleaner water, etc.  That is not going to happen any time soon.  Really.   Vaccination is not a band-aid, as far as polio/measles goes in Africa.  It is the only realistic solution.  I have some sympathy for people in Western countries deciding not to vaccinate.... they have that luxury.  But don't you dare say that vaccination is not a real solution to a problem you know nothing about.  But.... the Peace Corps and Medicins san Frontieres can always use more volunteers if you'd like to learn.

[babygirlie]

to keep this short. I lived in Africa. There ARE western type "civilized" *cringe* cities. I never noticed screens in windows or doors and the homes are very open. Hence the malaria epidemic which they are very concerned about. One thing was there was only one doctor for two countries.. COUNTRIES. When I lived in the village... hours away from any sort of clinic the entire  area all drank out of the same pond. A pond of about 800 square feet (small puddle you could walk around in 2 minutes). This was also the ONLY water supply for any goat, mule, chicken whatever animal might be there for miles. So you drank along side a goat in sitting water and no mosquito nets or doors or anything to hide from the bugs. Also everyone in the community drank from the same pitcher (beer is the only other thing they drank as it was the safest thing they can make).

So yeah.. I can see how disease would spread when no one washes their hands let alone their bodies and uses the road as a restroom (very common to just take a few steps over and pee where you were.. skirts are great for that) and who knows if that goes into the well water or not (not a big concern I would think).

And then you have shanti towns sitting just outside of towns with one water spout for 500,000 people.

I seriously doubt measles is even on their minds. AIDS and malaria and clean water are. Rape and murder is also really common.

[babygirlie]

Is it really fair to go up to someone who has never heard of a vaccine and tell them it's a magic needle and they will never get sick to someone who has no way of questioning it?  It reminds me of missionaries.. we can kill you or you can believe in Christ.. but hey it's totally up to you!   Take this magic shot and we promise it will make you invincible.

You can't be everyone's mom/dad especially when they are given very little option or even understanding of what you are doing. It's unethical regardless of whether you think it's good for their health.

[lovebeingamomma]

Missionaries threatening death or conversion...the majority would never even think of such an immoral approach to witnessing.  Crazies are out there for sure but I don't think it's fair to make such a broad statement about all missionaries. 

Originally Posted by babygirlie 

Is it really fair to go up to someone who has never heard of a vaccine and tell them it's a magic needle and they will never get sick to someone who has no way of questioning it?  It reminds me of missionaries.. we can kill you or you can believe in Christ.. but hey it's totally up to you!   Take this magic shot and we promise it will make you invincible.

You can't be everyone's mom/dad especially when they are given very little option or even understanding of what you are doing. It's unethical regardless of whether you think it's good for their health.

[Lovemy3girls]

Translation: Don't you dare express an opinion that differs from my perspective!  

Quote:

Originally Posted by zylph 

But don't you dare say that vaccination is not a real solution to a problem you know nothing about.