By - Mumps – 99% Reduction In US Cases
Mumps is a viral disease caused by the mumps virus – and can cause swelling of the salivary glands, brain infections, permanent deafness, or testicular swelling that leads to infertility. Extreme cases can lead to encephalitis – and death.
Before the development of the mumps vaccine in 1963 by Maurice Hilleman, this disease affected an estimated 0.1-1% of the entire world population.
Today, however, all children are supplied with the mumps vaccines as part of the MMR – Mumps, Measles, And Rubella – vaccination program, preventing infection entirely. This has led to a staggering decrease in infection cases – while over 150,000 cases of mumps were reported in 1968, the average yearly case load of mumps infections averaged only 265 from 2001-2008.
- Diphtheria – 100% Reduction In US Cases
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Symptoms include coughs, rapid breathing, coughing, cardiac arrhythmias, and lymph node swelling. It’s estimated that about 5-10% of diphtheria cases are fatal – and this percentage swells to 20% in children under 5, and adults over 40 years of age.
Outbreaks of diphtheria still occur worldwide, but modern vaccinations have reduced the preponderance of this illness dramatically. In the 1920s, it’s been estimated that 100,000 to 200,000 people suffered from diphtheria in the United States alone, leading to nearly 15,000 fatalities per year.
However, since the diphtheria vaccination was developed in the 1940s, infection by diphtheria has become rare in the developed world – according to CDC data, fewer than 50 incidents of diphtheria were reported in the United States during the period of 1997-2006 – a dramatic decrease, indeed.
- Measles – 99% Reduction In US Cases
Measles is still a huge problem in the developing world, where vaccination is still expensive and uncommon. It’s estimated that about 20 million people a year are affected by measles – primarily in South Asia and Africa. Before a vaccine was developed, measles affected an estimated 3 – 4 million Americans per year.
And though measles remains a problem in the developing world, mortality rates have been going down – 73,000 deaths were reported from measles in 2014, down from 545,000 deaths in 1990. Much of this can be chalked up to an aggressive vaccination program – indeed, as of 2016, measles had been completely eliminated from The Americas.
Measles is still a problem worldwide – but smart vaccination solutions, modern treatments, and innovation represent a great path forward. With time, we’re certain to eliminate this disease not just from the Americas – but from the world.
Spread The Word – Vaccines Save Lives!
There has been an unfortunate rise in “anti-vaxxer” sentiment in recent days. Critics of vaccination claim that vaccines can cause autism, allergies, and other health problems among children and adults.
Let us dispel this unscientific sentiment once and for all. Vaccines are safe. Vaccines protect you. Vaccines have saved countless millions – and will continue to do so. Anyone who believes that vaccines are somehow harmful is severely misguided.
As the near-eradication of these 5 diseases have proven, vaccination is absolutely essential to maintaining the health of the world population. So spread the word. Remind friends, patients, relatives, and others about the importance of immunizations – both for themselves and for their children. By doing so, we can continue to fight for the good, and eliminate dozens of terrible diseases – once and for all.
