As of this writing, the measles outbreak in Florida has reached nine cases, including the first case recorded outside the epicenter in Broward County, near Fort Lauderdale.
Nine cases may not seem like a lot, but they are enough to worry epidemiologists. They point out that measles is among the most contagious viruses known to humanity, which means the cases identified so far are likely the tip of the iceberg.
Who is indifferent? Florida's chief public health officer, that's who. He is Joseph Ladapo, whom I once knew as “America’s most dangerous charlatan.”
That was before the measles outbreak, when Ladapo was primarily known for her opposition to coronavirus vaccination despite overwhelming evidence that it saves lives.
1 in 5 will be hospitalized, 1 in 20 will develop pneumonia (the most common way measles kills young children), 1 in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (an infection of the brain, sometimes causing permanent brain damage), and 1 in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (an infection of the brain, sometimes causing permanent brain damage). -3 out of every 1000. Death.
– Epidemiologist Caitlin Gitellina talks about measles
Ladapo has now cemented his position at the top of the list of government officials dangerous to your health. He did so with a letter issued on February 20 to parents with elementary school children experiencing an outbreak.
The letter noted that it is “usually recommended” that children remain at home until the end of the infectious period, which he set on March 7.
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But he added: “Given the high rate of immunity in the community, as well as the burden on families and the educational cost of healthy children who miss school, his agency will allow parents or guardians to make their own decisions about sending their children to school.”
The letter was also notable for what it did not say. It did not advise parents of unvaccinated children to vaccinate them immediately.
Ladapo was appointed surgeon general by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, largely because he has made the same propaganda opposing coronavirus measures, including vaccines, as the governor. DeSantis has not spoken publicly about the measles outbreak, but make no mistake: He deserves just as much blame for the consequences.
To say that Ladapo's advice left doctors and epidemiologists aghast would be a gross understatement. Allowing unvaccinated children to go to school where they could be exposed to measles contradicts all responsible recommendations from medical science.
Ladapo tried to justify the decision to allow unvaccinated children exposed to measles to go to school by asserting that the vaccination rate was high enough.
But as epidemiologist Caitlin Gitellina notes in her blog, The Local Epidemiologist, while Florida's vaccination rate is just over 90%, that's “not high enough — because measles is so contagious, the herd immunity threshold for measles is 95%.” . This means that there are pockets in the school, other schools and the community where measles can burn out.
Measles will actually spread in the United States in 2024. Case numbers continue through February 22.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
In other words, Ladapo's appeal to “herd immunity” is outweighed by the herd stupidity of the anti-vax movement to which he belongs.
She also points out that “unvaccinated children can still get protection from the vaccine within 72 hours of exposure.” This generally reduces the severity of symptoms. But Ladapo made no mention of that.
Ladapo also minimized the consequences of measles. The incidence of measles in the United States has been so low in recent years that the severity of the disease for unvaccinated people can be fatal. Ladapo advised parents to beware of “a rash that often develops on the face and neck before spreading to the rest of the body as well as” high fever that can reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
Is this enough warning? no. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that among unvaccinated people, 9 out of 10 exposed people will develop the disease.
Gitellina adds that among unvaccinated people, “1 in 5 will be hospitalized, 1 in 20 will develop pneumonia (the most common way measles kills young children), and 1 in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (an infection of the brain, which… Sometimes it leads to permanent brain damage) and 1-3 in 1,000 will die.
Measles can also “cause immunological amnesia, where the immune system loses its ability to fight other viruses to which people were previously immune.”
In other words, measles is not something that can be seen casually. The CDC has identified 35 cases nationwide this year so far. That's more than half of the total cases in all of 2023, which were recorded less than two months into 2024. That number is sure to rise as public health officials like Ladapo fail to do their jobs.
The measles vaccine — MMR, which includes immunity to mumps and rubella — has been a major target of the anti-vaccination cabal ever since British doctor Andrew Wakefield published a long-debunked fraudulent report in 1998 linking it to autism. As a result, Wakefield lost his medical license in Britain, but his work has remained a disgrace to public health ever since.
Ladapo has made common cause with the anti-vaccine movement over Covid vaccines. Doubts about MMR shots may have influenced his judgment in the measles outbreak.
His inadequate response to the outbreak has finally caused some Floridians and the state's media to take note of the danger his policies pose to the health and well-being of Florida's children and others. But given the virulence of measles, it may be too late.
