‘Vaccine denial’ behind measles deaths in South

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

Local Islamic teachers preaching vaccination ‘forbidden’ for Muslims.

 

THE “vaccine denial” common in some Muslim communities has contributed to the deaths of at least six patients, including children, during a measles outbreak in the far South.

 

Though vaccines are proven to prevent diseases, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) is worried that a measles epidemic is quickly spreading in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat -due to a large proportion of the residents rejecting immunisation for religious reasons.

 

Yala province alone has experienced nearly 500 measles infections since the sometimes deadly disease began spreading in June, according to the Yala Provincial Public Health Office. So far there have been six deaths in the province, and the infection rate has rapidly risen since September.

 

The main cause of the mass outbreak of measles in the far South is the large number of Muslims who are refusing to take the vaccine, said Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division director Dr Pornsak Yoocharoen. They have been incorrectly taught that these vaccines are haram, forbidden for Muslims to use or consume. Parents wrongly believe it would be against Islamic teaching to allow their children to be immunised by taking the vaccine.

 

“The high proportion of vaccine denial among the population group has reduced the immunisation coverage down to 30-40 per cent in some areas, which highly increases the risk for mass infections of vaccine preventable diseases in that area,” Pornsak said. 

 

The refusals continue “even though the Sheikhul Islam Office has already told the Muslim communities in Thailand that the use of vaccines is not against the Islamic teaching”, he said.

 

Sheikhul Islam Office secretary Sutham Boonmalert last Thursday directly addressed the issue, saying that though some vaccines contain ingredients derived from pigs, which are forbidden for Muslims, it was more important for a good Muslim to remain in good physical health at all times.

 

Therefore, until alternative vaccines that do not contain haram ingredients are invented, Muslims may use vaccines without having to worry that they are violating the Islamic doctrine, Sutham stated.

 

Pornsak said the main problem is that many Muslims in the far South remain sceptical about the official clarification and advice from authorities. They are unconvinced and instead believe in the inaccurate teachings of their local Dato (Islamic teacher), who preaches against vaccination.

 

“We have been trying to promote childhood immunisation in the three Southernmost provinces for many years, but this effort is not very fruitful,” he said.

 

“This is because since the southern insurgency was ignited a decade ago, officers have found it harder to work with local communities due to the lack of trust among local Muslims and the insecure situation for the officers.”

 

Moreover, he said some side-effects of vaccination, which may cause mild fever in children, also caused their parents to fear harm to their children’s health from vaccines.

 

He estimated that due to the severity of vaccine denial in the far South, the overall vaccine coverage in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat was as low as 50 per cent, well below the medically endorsed rate of over 80 per cent, and too low to create mutual immunity to diseases among the population group. 

 

He added that the lower than average vaccination coverage in the far South also raised the risks for a major outbreak of other vaccine preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, rubella and pertussis.

 

Measles is a highly infectious disease and can be fatal in children. Vaccinating a child age between nine months and two years old is an effective prevention.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30356655

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-18

3 hours ago, webfact said:

due to a large proportion of the residents rejecting immunisation for religious reasons.

shows how far behind that religion is

9 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

shows how far behind that religion is

I'm all for it

3 hours ago, webfact said:

They are unconvinced and instead believe in the inaccurate teachings of their local Dato (Islamic teacher), who preaches against vaccination.

Death by religious believe? Was it God's will, or do they call it "natural selection?"

      

Aliana (6) suffered, and died from chronic measles encephalitis SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). The disease is a long-term consequence of a measles infection and is always fatal. Measles viruses destroy nerve cells in the brain.

Should I hope that lots of relatives were visiting and took this ancient

desease back to their home countries with them?

1 hour ago, Arjen said:

There are also Christians who refuse vaccinations, (and insurances) for religious reasons. And there is growing group peoople who think vaccinations are unhealthy and should be avoided....

 

Arjen.

THE “vaccine denial” common in some Muslim communities has contributed to the deaths of at least six patients

 

The title is discussing one particular religion, you’re off topic.

This time I have to agree with them, no vaccines of any kind would be holier. Good on them for once.

1 hour ago, Arjen said:

 

There are also Christians who refuse vaccinations, (and insurances) for religious reasons. And there is growing group peoople who think vaccinations are unhealthy and should be avoided....

 

Arjen.

I am one of those people.

When I was a child, everyone caught measles and nobody died. Strange it's now killing people, as diseases usually become less harmful from generation to generation.

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I am one of those people.

When I was a child, everyone caught measles and nobody died. Strange it's now killing people, as diseases usually become less harmful from generation to generation.

I think your memory doesn't serve you well.  Look at the fatalities, pre-vaccination, during vaccination development and now.  Virtually eradicated in many places due almost entirely to vaccination.

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

shows how far behind that religion is

I agree that Islam is running behind.

In this case, however, the guilt lies by the stupid ideas of local "imams".

Now, the number of not so very intelligent imams, ayatollahs, teachers and preachers in Islam is rather high.

But then again, the number of religious "leaders" in other religions having a bright mind isn't that big either.

old - but apt.

 

A devout Salafist Muslim enters a cab in London.

 

He asked the cab driver to turn off the radio because as decreed by his religious teaching he must not listen to music because in the time of the prophet there was no Western style music or radios. The cab driver turned off the radio, stopped the cab and opened the door. The Salafist asked him "What are you doing?" The cabbie answered, "in the time of the prophet there were no taxis either, so piss off and wait for a camel."

I've had measles and vaccinations for measles. 

 

Which made me the sickest?  The vaccine just about killed me. Measles themselves?  No worse then a mild case of the flu.

 

Vaccinations are not without risks.  The same people promoting vaccines don't talk about the high incidence of autism in countries with the most Machiavellian 'mandatory' vaccination programs.  And the term 'vaccination deniers?'  Just another pejorative that is used to dismiss any counter arguments on the subject of vaccination.

The beliefs of the anti-vaxxers have repeatedly been shown to be ill-informed and wrong. But it is for them a matter of faith, bolstered by whatever data they choose. Providing them with our scientific beliefs has no impact. They believe that they are entitled to their facts and science is a conspiracy in some form. We are never going to change their views.

 

I ask what kind of twisted narcissist do you have to be, to believe that a few hours on some cesspit site on the fringes of the web, means that you know more than the accumulated knowledge of 100s of 1000s of scientists and doctors over 200 years. Vaccines have saved literally billions of lives.

 

 Trendy Anti-Vaxxers in places like Washington state share a cause with the Taliban and Boko Haram. If you don't vaccinate your child you are putting their lives at risk, and also the lives of other parents children, this is happening already with new measles epidemics, and associated deaths (Post the MMR phoney scare).  Anti Vaxxers are murderers, thats the truth of it.

19 minutes ago, connda said:

I've had measles and vaccinations for measles. 

 

Which made me the sickest?  The vaccine just about killed me. Measles themselves?  No worse then a mild case of the flu.

 

Vaccinations are not without risks.  The same people promoting vaccines don't talk about the high incidence of autism in countries with the most Machiavellian 'mandatory' vaccination programs.  And the term 'vaccination deniers?'  Just another pejorative that is used to dismiss any counter arguments on the subject of vaccination.

"The vaccine just about killed me" - I reckon you're one of those that are at risk from everything.

It’s probably hereditary, from your parents genes, best you get your DNA analyzed you'll probably find you have an issue with most things in this world.

 

"The vaccine just about killed me" - it's fair to say this is a selfish statement, what about the billions of lives that are saved from vaccines.

 

7 hours ago, YetAnother said:

shows how far behind that religion is

IMO it's no different to other religions...……...fairy stories, lies and gossip (and paedophilia) from the dark ages, all designed one way or another to control people and make a few wealthy.

4 hours ago, HHTel said:

Look at the fatalities, pre-vaccination, during vaccination development and now.  Virtually eradicated in many places due almost entirely to vaccination.

Add in autism, asthma, allergies, diabetes, hiv, and all the immune diseases that didn't exist or were previously rare.

57 minutes ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Providing them with our scientific beliefs has no impact. They believe that they are entitled to their facts and science is a conspiracy in some form. We are never going to change their views.

I do remember a UK government campaign saying you can't catch bse from infected beef, backed by scientists, then a load of people catching it from eating beef.

It really depends how much you trust your government and the people who work for that government. I'm happy for you to believe them and vaccinate your kids.

42 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I do remember a UK government campaign saying you can't catch bse from infected beef, backed by scientists, then a load of people catching it from eating beef.

It really depends how much you trust your government and the people who work for that government. I'm happy for you to believe them and vaccinate your kids.

Well I trust the 1000s of scientists and researchers over a few scaremongering numbnuts online who are just waiting to take up a cause.

 

No getting around the facts that vaccines and immunisation have saved perhaps billions of lives and eradicated many diseases...…….but yet no facts supporting your statement linking vaccinations to, "autism, asthma, allergies, diabetes, hiv, and all the immune diseases that didn't exist or were previously rare".

 

And one or two isolated cases around the world do not make it so.

 

I was responsible for looking after a schoolmate who had contracted polio and it was pitiful to see his deformed legs although he bore his burden well; then another friend who had the same disability but unfortunately she died in her converted 3 wheel car when it overturned and caught fire, and she couldn't get out.

 

Nowadays it is rarely seen but has made some inroads due to the anti-vaccination brigade and religious idiots.

 

I cannot understand the mentality of folks like you, so onto the ignore button you have to go in order that I don't have to interact with you and your views.

 

 

1 hour ago, Arjen said:

People can not get sick with BSE. There is human variety of BSE, Creutzfeld-Jacob called. There are some signs that eating beef with BSE can cause Creatzfeld-Jacob in people. Incubation time can be up-to 20 years. So very difficult to proof this.'

 

But it is proven humans can not get sick with BSE.

 

Arjen.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that may be passed to humans who have eaten infected flesh.BSE causes a spongiform degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.

3 minutes ago, Arjen said:

From your quote: "that my be passed to humans" it is proven that humans can get sick with BSE. There are doubts if the very rear condition "Creutzfeld'Jacob" in humans is caused, can be caused by consuming BSE contaminated beef. The nrs are way to low to find any proof for this.

 

Arjen.

A human version of mad cow disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(vCJD) is believed to be caused by eating beef products contaminated with central nervous system tissue, such as brain and spinal cord, from cattle infected with mad cow disease

4 minutes ago, Arjen said:

From your quote: "that my be passed to humans" it is proven that humans can get sick with BSE. There are doubts if the very rear condition "Creutzfeld'Jacob" in humans is caused, can be caused by consuming BSE contaminated beef. The nrs are way to low to find any proof for this.

 

Arjen.

The condition, when transmitted to humans, can cause variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or vCJD, a very rare and fatal brain disease in humans that has similar symptoms (for example, ataxia, jerky movements, seizures) to those seen in BSE. Humans also develop dementia, memory loss, and personality changes

1 hour ago, Arjen said:

People can not get sick with BSE. There is human variety of BSE, Creutzfeld-Jacob called. There are some signs that eating beef with BSE can cause Creatzfeld-Jacob in people. Incubation time can be up-to 20 years. So very difficult to proof this.'

 

But it is proven humans can not get sick with BSE.

 

Arjen.

Worst of all, there's no cure for vCJD and people usually die within 13 months of showing symptoms. Furthermore, it can take up to 15 years for symptoms to manifest themselves. Mad Cow disease was first discovered in Great Britain in 1986

41 minutes ago, Arjen said:

People can not get sick with BSE!

Sorry but in English this is Sick, very sick - 

 

BSE causes a spongiform degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.

•  

Darwinism in action.

18 hours ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Anti Vaxxers are murderers, thats the truth of it.

My kids are all alive and undamaged.

1 hour ago, Arjen said:

There are some signs that Creutzfeld-Jacob is caused by eating meat from contaminated beef with BSE, and then you also need to eat spine or brain. Incubation time is very, very long!

 

People can not get sick with BSE! You also do not call a bicycle a car do you? 

 

Arjen.

 13 hours ago, Arjen said:

People can not get sick with BSE!

Sorry but in English this is Sick, very sick - 

 

BSE causes a spongiform degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.

 

 

 

Sick definition: If you are sick , you are ill.

 

Ill, sick mean being in bad health, not being well. Ill is the more formal word. In the U.S. the two words are used practically interchangeably except that sick is always used when the word modifies the following noun: He looks sick ( ill ); a sick person.

6 hours ago, VYCM said:

Sorry but in English this is Sick, very sick - 

 

BSE causes a spongiform degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.

 

Thank you for not quoting 

 

 13 hours ago, Arjen said:

People can not get sick with BSE!

 

I comment on statements that I read that are not true.

 

BTW, you were first to start with the English lessons - "do not call a bicycle a car do you"

 

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My kids are all alive and undamaged.

I am happy to hear that, however as a statistical sample it means nothing. The point about vaccination programs is to achieve herd immunity. This isn't a meaningless throw away phrase, it a serious scientific fact established by vast studies involving 100s of 1000s of people, during the 200+ years since Edward Jenners first smallpox vaccination in 1796. Simply put, your children are in very little danger because there is hardly any pool of disease out there, due to the fact that the majority of other people, caring for the welfare of their own and others children, have had theirs vaccinated. You should read the fascinating history of vaccination from a reliable source,  a heartening achievement of human civilization.

This from a NZ newspaper article today regarding a case of BSE found in Scotland...………….

 

"Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as 'mad cow disease' is a deadly brain condition in cattle that is caused by infection with prions.

Prions are infectious proteins with abnormal shapes and once they enter the brain they cause extensive brain damage. There is no cure.

BSE originally occurred in UK cattle through the feeding of infected meat and bone meal. And during the UK outbreak in the 1980s and early 1990s, it is estimated that up to half a million cattle may have been infected in this way.

Cows are now fed a strict vegan diet to avoid infection, but BSE can sometimes also occur sporadically in the cattle population – causing a disease known as atypical BSE, which has been the cause of the most recent outbreaks in Britain.

In rare cases, BSE can be passed between people and animals by eating contaminated meat, causing the disease variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Since the CJD outbreak in Britain in 1996 there have been 178 cases diagnosed in Britain and no new cases since 2016. Animal tissues where the BSE prion proteins are concentrated such as the brain, spinal cord and spleen are now banned from the human food chain.

Prof Neil Mabbott, Personal Chair in Immunopathology at The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, said: "While the identification of a new case of BSE in Scottish cattle is worrying, the measures that remain in place in the UK should ensure that there is no risk to the public.

"Clearly urgent research is now required to identify the potential source and characteristics of the BSE in this outbreak."

UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "While it is too early to tell how this animal became infected, this detection shows that the surveillance system is doing its job.

"As it has been made clear, there is no risk to food safety or human health in any part of the UK."

48 minutes ago, Arjen said:

53 minutes ago, VYCM said:

Thank you for not quoting 

 

 13 hours ago, Arjen said:

People can not get sick with BSE!

 

I comment on statements that I read that are not true.

 

BTW, you were first to start with the English lessons - "do not call a bicycle a car do you"

 

I tried to block you, but it seems not to be possible anymore. Please let stop this endless discussion.

 

Arjen.

I’m at a loss as to why you would want to Block me.

 

You are obviously educated by the posts you write, therefore you are familiar with communicating in a professional way.

Keeping connected, collaborating and being interactive are qualities of good communication skills.