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SilverSabre25 06:36 PM 09-09-2010
Originally Posted by Carole's Daycare:
So he can spread measles to a family with an infant at home too young to be immunized. 164,0000 children die from measles each year.
I just want to point out that you meant either 1,640,000 OR 164,000 children die each year from measles. I don't care which figure you're quoting, though, because both are wrong. Deaths in the US are fewer than 1 a year. There were only 140 cases reported in 2008 (the most recent year I found data for) and there are only 1-3 deaths per 1000 reported cases in the US. Even in the decade before the vax was introduced, there were 4-5 MILLION cases, and only 400-500 deaths. http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080821.htm

Okay, I did find the 164,000 figure in a document from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5847a2.htm (it's near the bottom of the first paragraph) but it's a worldwide figure from 2008 and is total deaths, not CHILD deaths. This document was published less than a year ago and predicts worldwide deaths this year to be less than 73,000.

Sorry to jump on you, but I really, really, REALLY hate to see statistics thrown around will-nilly. Especially when they're wrong.

Edit: I also feel the need to point out that these numbers are TOTAL reported cases, not just cases/deaths in children.
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