Oh noes! When you go to a large gathering of people you might get sick!

[feren]

Already rumors are flying that somebody came to MFF 2009 with mumps. Of course there's a few objective thoughts to this...
1) It's an FA post. Hardly reputable reporting.
2) If it's true, it's only an issue to people that never got the MMR vaccine (let's not even go down the "vaccines are bad" path).
3) Why is this a surprise if it's true? Large gatherings of people from all over the continent or other continents offers the opportunity for cross-infection of things you wouldn't be exposed to if you were to stay home. Likewise with flying on a plane, or riding on a train, or on a cross-country bus trip.

Am I the only one who sees these things and goes "And the news here is... what, exactly?" Has everyone become a twenty-first century spaz?

Comments

[doomsey.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely on the "WAH" side of the divide.

Also, I'm all for removing idiots who refuse to get vaccinated from the gene pool. That kind of shit hurts everyone.

[yotogi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, fucking with our herd immunity is not okay. I'm indignant about this stupidity, but if I had kids I'd be positively murderous.

[mongologue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, mumps outbreak at MWFF is.. quite possible but, if so, just a "Well, that would be crappy. Hope people are vaccinated, and if they have symptoms get to a doctor!"

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

The stupidity involved in that mess is astounding. All props to Mr. Groat for giving people the heads-up that he came down with it and someone (who that was doesn't matter, something that seems to have escaped some parties) may have been contagious at the con. If people start getting symptoms they may get to a doctor sooner.

But the people going "oh, that fucker who went to con with a contagious disease!!!", or the people trying to name names... Face, meet palm. Here's a newsflash: people can be contagious and not know they're sick. (Obviously not directed at you, Mr. Feren.) Also, naming names for something that isn't, like, an STD, just means people will start getting symptoms and because they didn't directly interact with the person named, tell themselves they're safe.

Of course, the reason it's considered "newsworthy" in some people's eyes seems to be "oh but it can make you sterile". Which makes me kind of shake my head and groan. The part of me that likes to mock the swine flu scare has been very tempted since I first saw that to respond with "hey, at least it wasn't the swine flu".


-Alexandra

[spoothbrush.livejournal.com]

I believe that part of the concern is the speculation that either the vaccine wears off over time or that the virus has developed a resistance to the antibodies that the vaccine promotes. People who have been vaccinated are getting this.

[genet.livejournal.com]

I think there's a lot of finger pointing at Jim, too. He's known for poor decisions, so people are making assumptions that this is just another of them. I spent the weekend sitting across from him in the Alley, and the poor man looked miserable. I hope he feels better soon.

*secure in MMR vaccinations AND booster*

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

It's something the con-goers should know about in case anyone there had babies too young to have been vaccinated yet, so they can watch for symptoms.
Of course, if anyone there had kids that they purposely didn't vaccinate because "Oh noes, that one doctor said vaccines cause autism and I'm going to ignore the fact that his test results were proved to have been altered to get the results he wanted", well I kind of hope their kids get it (but survive it, of course) since they are the bastards fucking with our herd immunity.

[(Anonymous)]

Mumps is nothing to (ahem) sneeze at. When I was 6 I nearly died of it: 106 deg. F fever, inflammation of the meninges of the brain. Fortunately, there doesn't appear to have been any permanent effect.

[neowolf2.livejournal.com]

Ack, that was me (didn't mean to post anonymously). BTW, that was in mid-1960s, before the vaccine was available, so I don't blame my parents at all.