NHK World, 3/5/2019
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190305_33/
Summary:
Japanese health officials have reported 109 cases of rubella in the week of February 18-24th. This brings the total 2019 rubella cases in the country to 650, four times higher than the same period last year. Officials predict that this year may be comparable to 2013’s record year of over 14,000 cases. The national government has begun offering free vaccinations to males between 39 and 56, an age group that did not receive childhood rubella vaccinations. In addition, some municipalities are offering free vaccines to women who may become pregnant and their families, in order to curb potential (visual, auditory, and cardiovascular) birth defects.
Connection:
We have just begun learning about viral structure and function in class, and how (for lack of a better term) virulent they can be. Rubella is another example of an airborne pathogen, and it was thankfully eradicated from the US in 2004, according to the CDC.
Critical Analysis:
This, as with other similar stories from NHK World, are meant as informative public broadcasts rather than in-depth scientific literature. It focuses mainly on raising public awareness of, and government response to, the outbreak. It does, however, touch on the complications rubella can present for pregnant women.
Question:
How prevalent are airborne viruses, and why is everyone not infected all the time by an airborne pathogen without the biological constraint to maintain life?
Additional Info:
1 Comment for “A2: Rubella cases exceed 100 in single week”
algloger
says:This is a really cool article and even more of a reason to vaccinate when we can.
According to the CDC, airborne diseases are not as prevalent as one would think. Unlike air, microbes can’t remain suspended in space for a prolonged period of time; they’re usually catching a ride on a substance like a moisture droplet or a particle of dust. Furthermore, infections occur through someone inhaling (or coming into contact with) an aerosolized substance with some infectious pathogen attached to it so it’s not like you’ll get sick from someone across the street sneezing in your direction.