WASHINGTON — The measles outbreak at California's Disneyland — which has spread like pixie dust — along with several other smaller flare-ups, has health officials warning of worse to come. Preventable infectious disease is making its return to the developed world — this time by invitation.
The scientific consensus on measles is effectively unanimous: (1) It is not trivial. Children with measles can get seriously ill, and there is chance of complications such as middle ear infections, pneumonia and encephalitis. (2) Measles is highly transmissible — one of the easiest viruses to get or give. (3) The measles vaccine is highly effective — one of the most successful against any virus or microbe.