WHO Reports Two Cases of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus in Ukraine
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed two cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) in the Ukraine. The cases involved a four-year old child and a 10-month old child in the Zakarpatskaya region of southwestern Ukraine. The onset of paralysis occurred on June 30 and July 7, 2015. According to the WHO, the emergence of cVDPV1 was due…
Measles: The New Red Scare
Fear. It’s a natural and primal human emotion. While human instinct is exceptional in evaluating and reacting to a natural personal risk, as in facing a predator, humans are terrible at assessing modern risks. According to Psychology Today1 this is because our ancestors were programmed to quickly react and respond to a situation before it […]
Pertussis in Reno County: Another Outbreak Among the Vaccinated?
Reno County in south-central Kansas is reporting more than 70 suspected cases of pertussis (whooping cough) this year, as of July 18. Forty-one of the cases are “confirmed or probable,” according to the Reno County Health Department. That number is up from 18 reported as of June 29. The county accounts for 20% of the total pertussis cases in Kansas.
Tara Haelle’s ‘Straight Talk’ on Science, Medicine, Health and Vaccines
Business magazine Forbes regularly features a column by freelancer Tara Haelle. The column goes by the slogan, “I offer straight talk on science, medicine, health and vaccines.” The phrase “straight talk” gives the impression that the brand of writing is independent, balanced, and well-informed—which would suggest a minimal level of editorial bias. During the…
Media Claims Vaccine Victory After Scaring Public Half to Death on Measles
The University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI hired GfK Custom Research, LLC to design and conduct a survey of parents’ opinions about the benefits and safety of vaccines, compared to a year ago. GfK is a market research firm that prides itself on being able to “see the big picture.” Its descriptive motto is: “Our team of data scientists…
A Measles Death, Vaccines, and the Media’s Failure to Inform
Last week, it was widely reported in the mainstream media that the autopsy of a woman who died of pneumonia earlier this year in the state of Washington found that she had been infected with measles, making this the first confirmed case of measles-related death in the US since 2003. Playing its usual role, the mainstream media is up in arms, blaming the death…