News & Articles

If only Julia Child had been a 
vegetarian
 Just think how different the environment and health care might be if Julia Child had taught plant-based eating.   
Karen Moore
Duluth, Minnesota  

Measles immunization is smart

I first saw a child die from measles in 1986 in Guatemala. Immunization efforts had not reached enough children to prevent measle’s spread.  An otherwise healthy 16-month-old child was rushed into the clinic in her father’s arms. She was unresponsive, feverish, struggling to breathe, with the classic measles rash and white spots in her mouth.  

We gave her IV fluids and antibiotics, but she died soon after arriving. We sat with her parents, holding their dying child, my supervisor and myself, feeling helpless – able only to observe the unimaginable grief of their loss. 

Measles vaccination was started in 1963 in the U.S. when there were 500,000 cases of measles per year, resulting in 500 deaths per year. World-wide, measles was killing 2 million children per year at that time. By 1967, there were fewer than 20,000 cases of measles per year in the U.S. By the year 2000, measles was considered eradicated in the U.S., as there had been no sustained outbreaks.  

Since measles have been absent from our lived experience, it is hard for us to be afraid it.   

Measles is highly contagious. It is caused by a virus. There is no treatment for measles. The measle virus remains in the air after an infected person leaves the room for at least 2 hours. An infected person will infect 90% of the unvaccinated people with whom they come in contact. 

The virus can cause inflammation of the brain. This can cause death, permanent seizures, blindness or deafness.   

However, measles vaccine is extremely effective, with 93% of measles infections prevented after one dose, and 97% prevented after the second dose.   

Immunity to measles after vaccination is lifelong.   

The measles vaccine is safe. Vaccines save far more lives and are far safer than any other form of medication.  

The immunization rate to prevent measles spread in a community is 95%.   

In Bayfield County, 70% of 2-year olds have received one dose of vaccine; 67% of 5-to-6-year olds have received two doses. 

In Ashland County, 78% of 2-year-olds have received one dose; 74% of 5-to-6-year olds have received two doses. 

The measles outbreak in Texas and surrounding states has now infected more than 590 people and taken three lives – two children and an adult. Dozens of children have required hospitalization.  We know that nearly all of the infections have occurred in unvaccinated people.  

Parents need to have complete and accurate information about potential risks to any vaccine, along with the benefits. Please contact your primary care provider or your county Public Health Department for more information or to schedule a vaccine appointment

Finally, if you would like to schedule a time to discuss any questions you have about vaccines free of charge, please contact me:  ann.reitz@cheqnet.net.
Ann Reitz
Port Wing, Wisconsin
 
Time to step up, Pete Stauber    

This is a final plea to our missing-in-action 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber. The assaults on our democracy continue, almost on a daily basis – in fact, where does one even begin to list the worst of them: the insanity of his tariffs (which every mainstream economist insists was a colossally stupid idea), threatening Social Security, dissolving the Dept of Education, ignoring due process, ignoring the Supreme Court, arresting judges, gutting the V.A., allowing Elon Musk’s ignorant stooges to run rampant through every corner of the federal government, etc, etc.

 So tell us, Pete, you’re OK with all of this? Do you really think this is why you were elected, to be a party to this? As a former Republican, and as a veteran, there was a time when I thought you were a stand-up guy, until you chose to side with the far-right crazies who’ve hijacked your party and sworn allegiance to a would-be dictator.     

A hundred years from now, historians will look back on this insane era with shock and amazement that such a thoroughly unfit man could actually have been elected – twice! And they’ll be equally shocked by the fact that one of the two major parties hitched their wagon to him and allowed this to happen. Every Republican, either actively involved with this ongoing disaster, or equally guilty by their deafening silence, will be tainted for life, their legacies forever ruined by the stench of Trump.    

This means you, Pete – there was a time when I was naive enough to think you were someone we could count on. These days I question how you could possibly have any mirrors in your home. Your continued silence (the pathetic “canned” reply I got in response to an email notwithstanding) tells me one of two things: you’re either as delusional and corrupt as Trump, or you’re afraid of him. 

There are no other possibilities. Just in case it’s necessary to remind you (which it shouldn’t be), you owe your allegiance to Minnesota’s 8th District, and to the people of the United States, NOT to the pretend-leader in the White House. 

It’s still not too late to step to the plate, Pete, but the 11th hour is approaching.
Lynn Scott
Soudan, Minnesota