Hm.

[magic_doors]

This not a particular pointful post, it's just I haven't said anything for a while, and I'd rather not talk about the finalsthesisbeast and the Extended Essay Swirling Vortex Of Doom.

jacinthsong pointed this out today - due to low uptake of the MMR vaccine caused by an idiotic and hysterical media hoax, cases of measles in the UK have risen dramatically.It

Comments

[chiasmata]

The thing about measles is (and I pick on this because it is one of the things that the MMR vaccinates against), it can have some very nasty complications: encephalitis, deafness, etc. It isn't just dangerous to pregnant women, and I don't think - from what I have read on various forums - that a lot of people realise this

[magic_doors]

I begin this comment with a short message: CONGRATULATIONS YOU CLEVER PERSON.

The whole media thing is interesting when the public health is involved; it's the same thing as shouting fire in a crowded theatre. Possibly we need some sort of secret council of scientists to secretly take control of the press and secretly stop them making complete twats of themselves and endangering the public at the same time. Also, they fight crime.

[magic_doors]

Oh, but am I right in thinking German measles isn't particularly dangerous to anyone other than very young children and pregnant women?

[chiasmata]

Um um um... Offhand yes, I think, except perhaps with the caveat that it is also likely to be dangerous to the immunocompromised, and that anyone infected can pass it onto pregnant women. Also mumps is more dangerous for young boys than young girls, as it can cause sterility in males :)

[chiasmata]

*takes a bow* Why, thank you! *grin*

And yes, quite! Scientist ninjas, almost-like.