Katie Drummond: Understood. It’s quite alarming. Here we are amidst this outbreak we discussed earlier. What are the next steps? When a measles outbreak breaks out and begins to circulate within a community, how do we manage something like this? What measures will the United States need to implement to effectively control this outbreak?
Emily Mullin: That’s an insightful question. We have encountered measles outbreaks in the past. You might recall the significant outbreak that occurred in 2019, focusing largely on the Orthodox Jewish communities in New York. It required a strategic, on-the-ground initiative to engage with the community, dispel misinformation, and share culturally tailored information about the MMR vaccine’s benefits to elevate vaccination rates. It is crucial to understand that there’s no effective treatment for measles; containment relies on isolation and vaccination. To reiterate, the ongoing measles cases are a result of declining vaccination rates across the nation. There is a growing skepticism around vaccines at the moment. For measles, a community needs a vaccination rate of at least 95 percent to avoid outbreaks due to its highly contagious nature. In Gaines County, Texas, which currently has the highest number of cases, the measles vaccination rate among kindergarteners stands at only 82 percent.
Katie Drummond: That’s shocking.
Emily Mullin: That’s precisely why we’re observing such a significant number of cases in that area. Conversely, in New Mexico’s Lee County, where the majority of New Mexico’s cases are occurring, measles vaccination rates are substantially better at around 94 percent. Still, given how contagious this virus is, it is vital to maintain vaccination rates close to 95 percent, as noted by epidemiologists, to effectively protect the community.
Katie Drummond: Just to emphasize, how effective is the MMR vaccine for preventing measles in an individual?
Emily Mullin: The vaccine is 93 percent effective against measles after one dose and 97 percent effective after two doses. The first dose is generally recommended for children between the ages of 12 to 15 months, while the second dose is typically administered when children are between four and six years old.
Katie Drummond: Understood. We are particularly concerned about the most vulnerable individuals in a community, such as infants and young children, who are at higher risk for measles infection. It certainly seems that opting for vaccines is a far more sensible choice than remedies like cod liver oil, if I might add. We’re going to take a brief pause. Thank you, Emily. When we return, we’ll discuss what you should check out on WIRED today. Welcome back to Uncanny Valley. I’m Katie Drummond, WIRED’s global editorial director, and I have Emily Mullin with me. Before we wrap up, I’d like to recommend an important story that everyone should read on WIRED.com today, aside from the fantastic pieces we mentioned earlier in this episode. It’s a feature by WIRED Contributor Lauren Smiley. Lauren is an exceptional journalist and a masterful narrative writer. She has conducted an in-depth investigation into Boeing. If you’re not already apprehensive about flying given the current FAA situation and the issues Boeing has faced over recent years, this story may increase your anxiety. I say this as someone who often takes Xanax before boarding a plane. This riveting narrative is told from the perspective of a former Boeing employee who had numerous concerns regarding safety in Boeing’s manufacturing facilities and the overall safety of the aircraft. He frequently raised alarms internally until he eventually left the company, after which he witnessed the tragic plane crashes and serious incidents involving Boeing aircraft that he played a role in manufacturing. This story chronicles his journey as a whistleblower and how, since departing Boeing, he has become a key figure for the families of victims from Boeing plane crashes. He has also become a central voice for other whistleblowers who have shared damaging insights about the company’s internal practices. It chronicles the mission of Ed Pierson to expose what he sees as serious oversights and misconduct by Boeing that jeopardizes our safety every time we board an aircraft. It’s a compelling read, although it won’t ease your fears. I highly recommend everyone take a look. Emily, I believe you mentioned you read this story earlier today, so I assume you share my enthusiasm.
