"Person on the street"

The United States is currently experiencing an outbreak in the measles virus. Many believe the outbreak is occurring due to international travel and parents who are refusing to vaccinate their children. There have been mixed reviews about the vaccine being linked to autism in children. Although, a large amount of studies have been preformed and there has been no connection to the MMR vaccination parents are still refusing to vaccinate. 85% of the patients found with the measles virus in 2011 had not received the MMR vaccine, and almost all that were infected had been out of the country. The measles outbreak in other parts of the world such as Europe, Africa and Asia are alarmingly high. In 2000, the United States had declared the measles as eliminated but now due to international travel being so common today it is a major concern. The virus is transmitted through the air and is extremely contagious. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours. The measles virus causes severe health issues including pneumonia, encephalitis and even death. Health officials and the CDC all recommend that children should be vaccinated at an early age and that everyone should be up to date on all vaccines to prevent an epidemic in the spread of disease.

References

http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/HAN/han00323.asp

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/us-measles-outbreak_n_866846.html

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/measles-outbreaks-2011/