Are women being warned about danger of measles to pregnant women and unborn children?

[bobbieinok]

Even as kids in grade school in the 50s we were aware of this danger.

In all the reports about the rise of measles cases I don't recall seeing any mention of this.

Seems like this dannger should be the lead in any anti-vax story!

[dhol82]

1. I believe the danger to pregnant women was from German Measles.

That is the virus that creates horrible birth defects.
Not sure what regular measles does.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. When my kids were getting their vaccinations, the measles vaccine included

German measles and mumps. It was called MMR for measles, mumps and rubella. I don't know if that is still the case. My pediatrician made sure that all his parents were aware of the risks of not vaccinating.

[AJT]

2. My sister in-law was exposed to German measles many years ago

while she was pregnant and her daughter was born deaf.

[Liberty Belle]

3. There are 2 forms and both cause problems for unborn babies, but German Measles is worse:

ON EDIT: There are 2 types of measles.
Measles (rubeola) is the more common measles today and it can cause low birthweight and miscarriage.

German measles (rubella) causes more serious problems for unborn babies, including deafness, decreased mental function and also increases the rate of stillbirth.

There are separate vaccines so a woman should get both to protect her child, the CDC advises.

read more: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/measles/article_em.htm#facts_on_measles_rubeola and
https://www.healthline.com/health/rubella#german-measles-in-pregnant-women

[Arkansas Granny]

6. There is a difference in measles and German measles (rubella).

They are two different viral diseases. Measles, which has been spreading in the United States in recent months, is rubeola. German measles is rubella. Rubella causes a milder illness than measles, but it is of particular concern because if a pregnant woman becomes infected, the virus can cause severe birth defects.Feb 10, 2015

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/10/ask-well-measles-vs-german-measles/

[catrose]

4. There's an Agatha Christie novel

where the plot revolves around a woman who was exposed to measles while pregnant. So people were aware of it more than 50 years ago. When I was pregnant a few decades later, one of the first things the doctor did was to check whether I had the proper antibodies. I happily vaccinated my child against measles (and whatever else was out there, having grown up in the polio years).

[Arkansas Granny]

8. You and me both. I followed the pediatrician's advice on vaccinations.

I remember the polio years and knew people who had had the disease.

[catrose]

11. I learned something recently about the polio vaccine

Because my mother was terrified of it and at one point thought I had it, I had the impression that the US rushed out and vaccinated as soon as it was available. Not so. Vaccination rates were in the 20-30% range until Elvis Presley had his vaccination in 1956 on TV. Then the rate jumped up into the 80% range. Another case of celebrity worship, but in this case, with a positive outcome. A couple of weeks later, ballerina Tanaquil Leclerq came down with polio and never walked (much less danced) again; maybe that had an effect too. Her company tried to get the cast vaccinated before a long tour, but she was busy and said she'd get it later.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. "The polio years"! I remember when Jonas Salk was raised to demigod status for his discovery...

In the 6th grade we had a polio survivor who stumbled around on crutches. Many, many images of the iron lung in those days.

Who could possibly have lived through those years and be anti-vax.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Yes, based on Gene Tierney. See post 7

It's called The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side.

[catrose]

10. I didn't know about Gene Tierney, but that's pretty much the exact plot

Except that Howard Hughes wasn't in the story, and it ended tragically, as though the damaged child were not tragic enough.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. Actress Gene Tierney was exposed to rubella during pregnancy

She most likely got it from a fan who knew she was sick, but just HAD to get Gene's autograph at the Hollywood Canteen. Her daughter was born premature, weighing under 4 lbs, was deaf, blind and mentally disabled. She was institutionalized and Howard Hughes paid for her care.

[Ms. Toad]

13. Fewer than 10 people/year get rubella,

the disease that causes danger to the unborn children of pregnant women who contract it, al of whom (since 2012) contracted it while outside of the US. It is not on the rise in the US.