1990–1991 Philadelphia measles outbreak

The 1990–1991 Philadelphia measles outbreak was a medical event in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in which over 1,400 people, mostly children, became sick with measles, and nine children died.[1] There were two epicenters for this outbreak within the area: The Faith Tabernacle Congregation and the First Century Gospel Church. Both churches discouraged the use of not only vaccinations, but also all other forms of medical treatment, instead relying solely on faith healing.[2] Following an investigation into the first death from the outbreak, a court order was obtained to forcibly treat and vaccinate children whose parents would not agree to seeking medical care.[3]

1990–1991 Philadelphia measles outbreak
DiseaseMeasles
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Confirmed cases1400+
Deaths
9

History

The outbreak began in October 1990,[4] but the bulk of incidents of illness, and all of the related deaths and responses to them, occurred in 1991. From November 4, 1990, to March 24, 1991, 486 cases and 6 measles-associated deaths were reported to the Philadelphia Health Department.[4] By June 1991, an additional 938 measles cases were reported to the department.[4] During this period, "the University of Pennsylvania also reported seven cases of measles among its students".[5]

Over the course of the outbreak, "nine children would die, six of them associated with two fundamentalist churches which preach a reliance on prayer, not medical care, to cure disease".[6] In February 1991, it was reported that "Health workers are now going to the homes of all students in a frantic effort to monitor their conditions to prevent further deaths",[7] and that local officials were "prepared to seek court orders to force the families to accept medical care if the children are in serious condition".[7] Later analysis noted that "although measles is normally fatal in about 1 of every 300 cases, the fatality rate in Philadelphia was much higher, because only 1 child in the congregations received treatment for pneumonia and encephalitis among the children".[6]

Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, noted that forced vaccination was used in response to the outbreak.[3] With respect to the parents who had initially refused vaccination, Offit said: "They were a peaceful lot. Once it was the law of the city, they realized it and they were pretty placid about it".[3]

References
  1. "Why A Court Once Ordered Kids Vaccinated Against Their Parents' Will". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  2. "The Philadelphia Measles Epidemic of 1991: Lesson from the Past or Prologue to the Future". drexel.edu. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. McNeil Jr., Donald G. (April 9, 2019). "New York City Is Requiring Vaccinations Against Measles. Can Officials Do That?". The New York Times.
  4. Rodgers, D. V.; Gindler, J. S.; Atkinson, W. L.; Markowitz, L. E. (1 April 1993). "High attack rates and case fatality during a measles outbreak in groups with religious exemption to vaccination". The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 12 (4): 288–292. doi:10.1097/00006454-199304000-00006. PMID 8483622.
  5. Witt, Karen de (20 February 1991). "Philadelphia Battles a Measles Crisis". The New York Times.
  6. "1991: The Philly measles outbreak that killed 9 children". 6abc Philadelphia. 6 February 2015.
  7. Lewin, Tamar (16 February 1991). "Measles and Faith Combine In 5 Deaths in Philadelphia". The New York Times.

See also
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