Pestilence

US measles cases hit highest mark in 25 years
The AP reports: "Measles in the U.S. has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, closing in on 700 cases this year in a resurgence largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines. [...] The vaccine, which became available in the 1960s, is considered safe and highly effective, and because of it, measles was declared all but eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But it has made comebacks since then, including 667 cases in 2014.Public health experts say some U.S. communities have low vaccination rates because of the spread of bad information — especially the now-debunked notion that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is linked to autism — through social media, pamphlets, hotlines and other means."

Comment: I'm encouraging everyone I know to get vaccinated. There's no excuse for irresponsible behavior that threatens public health. There are enough contagious diseases without vaccines to worry about, let's not be foolish and bring back a disease once thought to be eliminated.