Newark post., 1920-03-03
WARNINC-"MEASLES
is A FATAL DISEASE
Writer in Delaware Health
News Skaters Some Mis-
conceptions of Disease

statement heads an article in the
February issue of the Delaware
Health News. Measles is a fatal
disease" comes as a severe shock
to those who have hitherto classed
this as a children's disease, not
exactly an essential thing for
every well-brought up child to
have but rather a necessary evil
which must be endured. The
author of the article follows up
the statement with the following
facts:
During 1918, when measles was
prevalent, there were 1S deaths
from this cause, compared with
only one death from scarlet fever
during the same period. During
the last year for which figures are
available for the entire country
there were about $4,000 deaths
from measles; more than from
typhoid fever, more than from
whooping cough, three times as
many as from scarlet fever and
nearly as many as from diptheria.
Surely measles should be guarded
against when SO much concern is
felt lest these other diseases
spread.
Any parent who deliberately eX-
poses his child to measles is as
liable to censure as though he
deliberately exposed the child to
scarlet fever, typhoid fever or
diptheria, and if death results
from such exposure the parent
should be held criminally respon-
sible for the death.
In addition to the deaths that
occur as the immediate result of
measles, or the complicating bron-
cho-pneumonia, there are many
indirect results from cases of
measles. Probably the most seri-
Gus of these is the lowered resist
ance to tuberculosis that often
follows an attack of measles; for
it is not at all uncommon for a
child who has had measles to de-
velop tuberculosis. Mental de-
ficiency is also due in some cases
to meningitis from middle-ear di-
sease following measles.
The prevention and control of
measles is in the hands of the pub
lie! Unless parents will isolate
every suspected case promptly and
do every thing possible to prevent
the transfer of infection to their
neighbors the disease will spread
and exact it's usual death toll. The
majority of cases never come to
the attention of the health authori-
ties, therefore no official protec-
tion against an epidemic can be
given. The health authorities can
only give this warming: Measles
is fatal disease! Every child
runs three times the danger of
dying from measles as from scar
let fever. Protect every child
against measles in every possible
way.
Another common misconception
with regard to the disease is also
cleared up for it is stated that the
disease is highly contagious be.
fore the appearance of the rash
and before a diagnosis can be
made coupled with the fact that
it's approach is similar to that OF
a cold in the head, makes it diff
cult to control. Isolation of the
first few cases and keeping of al
exposed children on their owr
premises is the only way in which
an epidemic may be prevented.
There is practically no danger
of the disease being carried from
one person to another. 1t i!
spread by direct contact with {
patient or with a person who i:
about to come down with the di
Sease."
Two weeks nearly always elaps
es between exposure and the ap
pearance of the rash; and afte,
ten days there is practically NJ
danger of the patients spreadin,
the disease.
The virus, the author says, die
out very quickly outside of tn
human body SO that it is not nee
essary to disinfect the sick room
A good cleaning and airing is suf
ficient. One attack usually con
fers lasting immunity so that ad
ults are rarely affected.