INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Re-Emerging Diseases: Why Some Are Making a Comeback 

Heather Frias

Updated on December 10,2019

Throughout time vaccines have defeated diseases such as smallpox and the measles.Despite the success that have occurred, some of these diseases have been making a come back into society.

The reasons behind this occurrence are often difficult to pin down, however here are a few key reasons behind some of the re-emergences.

Vaccine Refusal

Although you may think that all families embrace vaccination, a growing number of families have been neglecting vaccines due to a misunderstanding of the necessity and safety of vaccination.Vaccines are a medical treatment that provides acquired immunity to a particular disease.Vaccines usually contains an agent that resembles a disease causing microorganism,This may mislead families to believe that vaccinations are dangerous and unnecessary.

The re-emergence of these diseases is very alarming and due to the increase in families refusing vaccinations if you are unvaccinated and you come in contact with measles , there is a 90% chance you will get it.According to research there is evidence that unvaccinated individuals seem to cluster into the same communities  resulting in these individuals increased vulnerability to the diseases.This means that if someone in these communities came in contact with a disease such as the measles, the disease would spread like wildfire.

Despite the negative impacts there are still people including celebrities who don’t vaccinate their children to prevent the risk of disease.Anti-vaccinators are responsible for the outbreak of the measles involved in Disneyland that led to more than 300 cases in the United States and Canada.

According to STAT news the Measles vaccine is effective enough to do the job ,experts believe.The measles component of the MMR vaccine- it also protects against mumps and rubella-prevents infection in 97 out of every 100 kids.It is not 100% because some people who receive the vaccine might not respond and could get the disease anyway if exposed.

If there is a decrease in vaccination rates in communities, these outbreaks will likely continue.

Waning or Insufficient Immunity

The Measles isn’t the only vaccine preventable disease thats been on the rise, diseases such as pertussis and mumps have also been on the rise.Not only is the rise due to vaccine refusal but also from waning of insufficient immunity.

Does this mean vaccinations really dont work? Not exactly.This just means that some people’s bodies may not respond to the vaccination

Vaccinations work by exposing the body to the specific pathogen and then and then fight the pathogen off by creating antibodies.the body then saves this information so they can fight off the pathogens in the future if the individual comes in contact with the disease again.Vaccines are a powerful tool to protect the health of individuals however they are not always guaranteed.

Climate Change

With the decrease  of climate change perhaps the most influential resurgence of disease is yet to come.Climate change is negatively impacting the environment all over the world which is a threat to human health and safety.

Scientists have come to conclusions that a warmer wetter planet will lead to a resurgence of a number of diseases.it is very important for people to take the re-emergence of diseases very seriously to keep people healthy and safe in society.

As warmer temperatures arise there will be more precipitation that will draw in more mosquitoes risking  a greater chance of more outbreaks of diseases like Malaria.

A Word From Heather Frias

The reemergence of disease is very complex to understand, however the examples above are meant to illustrate how these factors are influencing the diseases and causing them to make a comeback.

Vaccinations and increase in climate change are not something to be over looked.Everyone should get vaccinated to protect themselves and others from harmful diseases.There should also be more action being taken against climate change for the sake of everyone’s health and environment.The significance of health sciences shouldn’t be overlooked.