San Diego Measles Outbreak Growing

Five More Kids Diagnosed, Bringing Recent Total To 11

(CBS/AP)  Authorities say five more children in San Diego have tested positive for measles, bringing to 11 the total number in the recent outbreak.

Health officials are awaiting test results on a 12th child.

Over the past month, officials have tracked measles to schools, grocery stores and the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

One of the latest victims is an 8-year-old who may have spread the measles virus during a visit to Whole Foods Market in Hillcrest and later to a Cirque du Soleil performance at the fairgrounds.

Officials are warning that the highly contagious disease can be particularly dangerous to children. The virus can survive for about two hours after it is expelled by a cough or sneeze.

This is the most measles cases in the city in 17 years, according to Dr. Mark Sawyer, a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at Rady's Children Hospital in San Diego.

The outbreak is believed to have started with a child who caught measles in Switzerland, then returned to the United States.

Sawyer told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez measles "is probably the most contagious infectious disease that we deal with," adding, "It's a miserable experience for children to have the measles."

Measles can cause complications that can even lead to death, Sawyer warned.

None of the 11 patients had been immunized.

What does Sawyer say to parents concerned about possible links to autism and other problems with vaccinations?

"The first thing I say is they really should discuss all their concerns with their physician and get all of the facts. In my opinion, parents who choose not to have their children vaccinated are not making a fully-informed decision.

"They have to realize that these diseases are out there, and this outbreak is an example of that, and not just the measles. We had an outbreak of mumps in the United States a couple of years ago. We still see whooping cough in the United States in very large numbers.

"So, the diseases are out there, and the diseases are just a plane ride away, as also illustrated by this case. This child went to Switzerland and brought the measles back here, to San Diego.

"The other thing that parents need to know is that vaccines are very, very safe, and there is a very complete structure to evaluate the safety of vaccines both before they're given to children or put on the market and afterwards."

For more on measles, check out these Web pages:

National Center for Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Measles Outbreak Information from Rady Children's Hospital

[lambofgoth]

Get your kids immunized people. Autism isn''t caused by vaccinations... the guy who brought the whole issue up even admitted to getting paid to say it was. For Gods sake, is it better to have a dead child than an autistic one? I will keep my immunized, autistic child healthy, thank you very much.
And for the inevitable person will post shortly saying their child wasn''t the same after immunizations, I wasn''t the same after my first boyfriend either. Didn''t stop me from dating.
Perhaps your child was allergic to something?

[mel99atc]

Saying vaccinations are very, very safe is an opinion and just another example of the brainwashing that goes on in our country. The evidence is there in the medical journals showing that vaccinations are not safe, it is just not put on the news because of the money. Most likely CBS is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA.

[mel99atc]

Saying vaccinations are very, very safe is a lie and an opinion and just another example of the brainwashing that goes on in our country. The evidence is there in the medical journals showing that vaccinations are not safe, it is just not put on the news because of the money. Most likely CBS is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA.

[shydroanna]

Autism is not caused by vaccinations and there are studies in the medical journals to back that up. I love a good "brainwashing" theory as much as the next guy but this is going too far. Our docotrs are not trying to kill us. The diseases that we have vaccinations for are still out there, can still kill us and are very much alive. Why doesn''t anyone look for the causes of autism in the pesticides or pollution? Maybe the plastics? There could be so many other causes that no one seems to want to talk about.

[mswolfestock]

The way I look at it, you are committing child endangerment if you fail to have your children immunized.

[mel99atc]

Saying vaccinations are very, very safe is a lie and an opinion and just another example of the brainwashing that goes on in our country. The evidence is there in the medical journals showing that vaccinations are not safe, it is just not put on the news because of the money. Most likely CBS is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA.

[mel99atc]

Saying vaccinations are very, very safe is a lie and an opinion and just another example of the brainwashing that goes on in our country. The evidence is there in the medical journals showing that vaccinations are not safe, it is just not put on the news because of the money. Most likely CBS is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA.

[mollydtt]

Vaccinations are safe, and getting the disease is dangerous. For those of us that actually had no option to get vaccinations (polio, measles, chickenpox, mumps, etc.) having those diseases was not only dangerous but inflicts lasting damage. My daughter got all of her vaccinations to avoid the consequences.

[extremophil]

California is frequently a good example of the wrong way to be. I''m sure there are lots of holistic practitioners and *** clinics to cure their measles.

mel99atc, your brain could use a few vaccinations to raise your IQ up to 80 or so.

[mel99atc]

Saying vaccinations are very, very safe is a lie and an opinion and just another example of the brainwashing that goes on in our country. The evidence is there in the medical journals showing that vaccinations are not safe, it is just not put on the news because of the money. Most likely CBS is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA.

[dredre2k]

Healthcare in the US is making this nation look more thirdworld everyday... 40 million plus+ uninsured. Many unable to afford medication and treatments...

Not to mention the gross incompetency of the FDA pass any effective regulation... Republicans have placed this agency in the hands of business for years now.

[velika-2009]

I have heard that vaccines caue autim o thatis one reaon that they won''t vaccinate. And in post post Iread itis blamed on illegals who are uninsured. Ok that post was halfright, you send back the illegals but you still have to worry about the uninsured and the underinsured. and still even if you have insurance, the vaccinations maybe too expensive to pay for when you have to decide for food, light , heat to getting the shots. The hosuehold bills win out every time. something that was never mentioned. only because as others have said that CBS is getting ome sort of funding from the pharmaceutical companies to pay for air time. And that makes all the difference to what is said or published in the media.

[erasmus6]

"My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA." posted by mel99atc

I will agree with you on that your medical system in the U.S. is a killer but the fact is that YOU ARE putting your son at risk by not getting him vaccinated.

There is no proof that vaccinations cause autism. Millions of children are vaccinated and have no problems. Let''s put it this way, even if they did cause autism the chances of your child getting it would be next to NIL. But the chances of your child getting ALL the diseases will be GREAT with no vaccination. These diseases can KILL. They can also cause serious problems. And if everybody quits getting them we are going to see some major epidemics again.

[cyndir4]

"The way I look at it, you are committing child endangerment if you fail to have your children immunized. "

I disagree. If you review the vaccination information sheets, you will see a documented list of adverse reactions that occur. Some of the reactions are mild (fever, redness), while others are quite severe (brain damange). My brother is one of the very unlucky individuals who suffered a severe reaction--he is now unable to talk or walk and has extensive brain damage. Please, do not say that vaccinations are completely safe--if they were, there would be no need for a vaccination compensation fund (yes, one does exist).

This is an individual decisions that parents must face. It is not "endangerment"--parents are simply trying to make the best decision possible.

[erasmus6]

I find it amazing that people are so worried about their child getting autism which would be very unlikely and yet they are willing to let them get the diseases ( which most will) that they can get severe complications from and even die! Does that make sense?

[mollydtt]

When I was a little kid, every family had at least one member that had suffered polio. (My dad got it) Every block had at least one kid in leg braces, and every classroom, too. The most unlucky ones were the ones that couldn''t breathe, due to paralysis of the muscles controlling breathing---the dreaded iron lung. I just mention this as an example, because for all of you that have proudly announced that you aren''t vaccinated against polio, you owe your good health to the millions that did get vaccinated, and therefore didn''t spread the disease to you. Same thing with rubella, whooping cough and diphtheria. Those diseases killed so many.

[velika-2009]

What about those who are citizens of the US and are uninsured? none mentions them in these posts. Quite possibly the children already had autism and it shown up just after the immunizations.It''s bad enough that some of those kids probastnerap dah yl bthat couldn''t afford it , if teir parents are un willing itis because of the so called autism connection. but whatwas never mentioned is some parents'' inability to pay for immunization

[mollydtt]

Here in Austin, TX, there are numerous free immunization clinics. No questions asked, no proof of inability to pay, etc. For any parent that doesn''t want their child immunized, they simply fill out a form saying they don''t want their child subjected to any vaccine. That form is kept on file in the school district''s administration office. (Again, no questions asked, no need to have a doctor''s permission, or religious objection--just parents'' perogative) But--all school immunizations can be gotten for free.

[erasmus6]

Here in Canada all vaccines are also free, except one, and I think it is the chickon pox vaccine, not sure.

[docpeter-2009]

RE: mollydt who stated, "I just mention this as an example, because for all of you that have proudly announced that you aren''''t vaccinated against polio, you owe your good health to the millions that did get vaccinated, and therefore didn''t spread the disease to you. Same thing with rubella, whooping cough and diphtheria." I am assuming that you, like I, grew-up in the lat40s or 50s. While the Salk vaccine did help a lot to reduce the occurrance of polio, sanitation and treatment of our national water supplies as well as our waste water had an even bigger role. While vaccination may reduce the likelyhood for the individual, it does nothing for the population as a whole. I am not anti-vaccination, I am for clean.

[docpeter-2009]

RE: erasmus6 wrote, "I find it amazing that people are so worried about their child getting autism which would be very unlikely and yet they are willing to let them get the diseases ( which most will) that they can get severe complications from and even die! Does that make sense?" There is no proof that vaccines cause autism. I have had probably more vaccines in my life than most people. My father was an ob/gyn and we were vaccinated every summer for something before we could go swimming. Personally I question the sudden rise in autism cases as 1. better methods of detecting, 2. doc who don''t know what else could be wrong, 3. increased recreational drug use in the late 60s and 70s. Who knows what all of those drugs did, on the chromosomal level, to America''s youth, and finally 4. our dirty environment, who knows what is in our air that a pregnant woman is breathing.

[mollydtt]

Polio is contagious. You can be the cleanest person on the planet, but if everyone else has not been vaccinated, your chances of getting it would be very high.

[coppertales]

When I grew up everyone got the measles, mumps, and chicken pox. It was a fact of life then. Too many people want to raise their kids in a steril enviornment. They give them antibiotics at the drop of a hat for everything that comes along, thus, resistant germs........chris3

[bb19631]

immunizations people! Get them! Measles are nothing to mess with. Immunizations linked to Autism is purely ridiculous in my opinion. When we were young we all got our shots and none of us got Autism. Mercury is not used in the shots anymore so shut up that *****.I thought schools and daycares required immunizations before enrollments. Do us all a favor and get your shots to protect us that have done so.

[erasmus6]

"There is no proof that vaccines cause autism." posted by docpeter.

Yes, I know, I stated that in an earlier post.

[erasmus6]

"When I grew up everyone got the measles, mumps, and chicken pox. It was a fact of life then." posted by coppertales

When I grew up I had the measles, chicken pox etc. too. And I had also had my vaccinations. The part I think you are not getting is that just because you are vaccinated doesn''t mean you won''t get them. What it does mean though, is that when you do get them, you won''t get them as bad, it will be mild. If you get them without having a vaccine you will get one hell of a lot sicker and you can DIE!!

[c9mmr]

get immunizations! just another area where those with more attitude than common sense are costing everybody....

[xlib]

This is what we get when parents refuse to have their children get the immunizations. But, they''ll probably blame it on someone else.

[xlib]

For those screaming about the cost, there are programs and every child on welfare gets the immunizations free-including chicken pox. The parents screaming about the cost probably spend the money on more important things, yes?? You have the child, your responsibility, etc, etc

[mel99atc]

Saying vaccinations are very, very safe is a lie and an opinion and just another example of the brainwashing that goes on in our country. The evidence is there in the medical journals showing that vaccinations are not safe, it is just not put on the news because of the money. Most likely CBS is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health...Remember, fact: The medical system is the #1 killer in the USA.

[4marlene]

my son got autism from the Hepatitis B shot. Why do they give Hepatitis B shots to babies when they are not at risk? Hep B is not a common childhood disease. Two of my friends were lab workers forced to get the Hep B shot when it first came out. Both of them became paralyzed from the vaccine. Shortly after that the CDC and AAP decided babies needed this shot too, just in case they start having *** and shooting up illegal drugs as soon as they get home from the hospital.

[erasmus6]

"Why do they give Hepatitis B shots to babies when they are not at risk?" posted by mustang4mom

I live in Canada and I have never heard of such a thing.

[erasmus6]

"...My son is not vaccinated...I would never risk his health..." posted by mel99atc

YOU ARE RISKING HIS HEALTH AND HIS LIFE!

When he gets really ill and possibly dies, he will have YOU to thank.

[cfin5]

Yep, the dude''s got the measles. Got them as a kid and we didn''t get any shot. You just wait them out and don''t scratch. Some things you just let your own body do the fighting

[cpaide]

"The outbreak is believed to have started with a child who caught measles in Switzerland, then returned to the United States."

Switzerland? Is that what they''re calling Mexico these days?

[ringading3]

"mustang4mom" is a bald face liar who has an agenda and will tell any lie to promote that agenda!

[michellem99-2009]

I had the measels years ago. I can''t get them. I don''t worry about measles.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Switzerland? Is that what they''re calling Mexico these days?" Posted by cpaide

No, it is what they call Switzerland.

[juwboy]

No, mustang4mom.

Your son has autism because of a genetic defect passed on to him by you and/or your partner.

[velika-2009]

Forgive my typing errors, I cannot type and my keyboard is acting up.

[talkingham]

Michelle there are several types of measle viruses.

[mediapreachr]

San Diego is pretty close to the southern border.
Their health officials should check the hispanic communities(shanty towns),in the area,where they live like sardines.
Most likely the carrier,just went across,bypassing regular check points-then headed straight to urban centers where "jobs" are.
Just a reminder,south american countries don''t have welfare or any resemblance of social services.

[erasmus6]

"I had the measels years ago. I can''''t get them. I don''''t worry about measles." posted by MichelleM99

Yes, they say you can only get them once but I have heard of people getting some of these diseases more than once. My cousin had one, I am not sure if it was measles or what, but he had it more than once. In fact my mom said he had them 5 times. I don''t think that happens very often though.

[purpleparadox]

Just thought I''d let everyone know that the measles are in central Kansas now. I live in Emporia, home of the ESU Hornets, and my [almost] three yr old granddaughter has the measles now. She''ll be over the rash by tomorrow, but it started a week & 1/2 ago with her getting tonsilitis. This is an air born virus, and one of the most contagious diseases known. If people would stay at home when they are sick, and get their kids the immunizations, this would not happen. But of course we live in a country full of stupid, and thoughtless selfish people who don''t care about the community of other people they could be hurting. People can die of measles[actually its Rubella] which is primarily a respiratory illness. It begins with a cold, or the flu, or cough, or tonsilitis, then 3-5 days later when you should be feeling better you get the "full body rash" which begins with a single or a pair of pink dots. Then you wake up the next day and it''s there. full blown and in every crevice and surface of skin you have. And the older you are the worse it can be. A dose of Bendryl and you''ll forget how bad the itching is. Stay home!!!!!!!!!! Keep it to yourself. Have a blood test if you suspect it''s coming so you''ll know to stay away from public places. Don''t be stupid like the San Diego people who brought this *** to tour country in the first place!!!

[purpleparadox]

Oh yes you can get them more than once. First of all there are more than one type. One type is similar to chicken pox, and then there is Rebella which can cause complications. I am 48 and I''ve had the measles 3 times, once for each strain of the disease. Rubella put me in the hospital after it affected my asthma and then caused me to have pnuemonia. I was in there for 15 days. Don''t talk about *** you don''t know about. Get your information from a reliable source. It''s the stupid and/or ignorant people in this world who are causing diseases to spread like wildfire and never go away. Be smart call the doctor, and then go back to bed, or at least stay away from public places. One sneeze of measles can live on objects for up to 2 hours. It''s airborn, cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze then sanitize your hands. Sanitize them after you touch anything in public.