Fact Checking the Idea That Measles Was Never a Scary Disease

Why do some people think that measles was never a scary disease?

The usual suspects…

Ben Tapper Says That Measles Was Never a Scary Disease

While Ben Tapper, a chiropractor and member of the Disinformation Dozen might try to convince you that measles is not a deadly disease, we know the truth.

Measles has always been a very scary disease.

“It is not yet generally accepted that measles can be a dangerous illness. Believe me, it is. In my opinion parents who now refuse to have their children immunised are putting the lives of those children at risk.”

Roald Dahl’s letter after his daughter’s death from measles

A killer!

In the pre-vaccine era, measles killed about 4-500 people in the United States each year.

“About 4,000,000 cases occur each year in the United States. about 400 children die; another 400 develop encephalitis or “brain fever.” Still others have various complication. Measles stirs up an ear or kidney, or can be associated with pneumonia, heart disease, tuberculosis, or asthma. So it’s not such a “harmless” disease some of the time”

Dr. Joseph Molner

And this was in the 1950s and ’60s, so you can’t credit improved hygiene and sanitation for any decrease in cases or deaths.

But you don’t have to go back to the pre-vaccine era to know that measles is a scary disease.

Measles is a Scary Disease

Remember the large measles epidemics from 1989 to 1991 in the United States that most folks blame on President Ronald Reagan’s cuts to immunization programs? Nationwide, at least 123 people died among 55,000 cases, with another 11,000 hospitalized!

And of course, there is the simple fact that measles continues to kill hundreds of thousands of people each year worldwide.

Get vaccinated and protected.

Measles is not a mild disease. And it never was.

More on Measles

• Why Have We Forgotten About the Importance of Vaccination Against Measles?
• The Myth That Measles Isn’t Deadly
• Parents Who Regret Not Vaccinating Their Kids
• Why Are You Still Worried About the MMR Vaccine?
• Ask 8 Questions Before You Skip a Vaccine
• Roald Dahl’s letter after his daughter’s death from measles
• WHO – Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated
• Increase in Measles Deaths Demands Urgent Action to Save Lives
• How dangerous is a measles outbreak?
• Measles: The forgotten killer
• Measles More Deadly Than We Thought
• The Disinformation Dozen: The Sequel

Last Updated on February 25, 2024