As of March 3rd, at least 41 cases of measles have been reported in 16 states this year.
It was declared eradicated in the US in 2000, but recent cases have been reported across the country.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious health problems.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious health problems. It was declared eradicated in the US in 2000, but recent cases have been reported across the country. The CDC has published weekly figures on measles cases and states where they have been confirmed. As of March 3rd, at least 41 cases of measles have been reported in 16 states this year. Florida is one state that has seen an increase in measles cases with nine confirmed cases linked to a local outbreak at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston and one travel-related case from Polk County. Orlando Health treated four patients with measles between February 20th and March 1st, while AdventHealth Central Florida has not reported any cases of measles this year. The CDC recommends that people who have been exposed to someone with measles should get vaccinated or receive a booster shot if they are at risk for severe complications from the disease.
Measles was preventable with safe and effective vaccines
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has contradicted medical guidance on sending kids back to school with confirmed cases
More than 3% of students claimed a religious exemption in the 2021-2022 school year, the highest ever
Accuracy
Measles was preventable with safe and effective vaccines.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has contradicted medical guidance on sending kids back to school with confirmed cases.
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Michigan has seen an increase in measles cases this week after a travel-related case was confirmed by the state's Department of Health and Human Services. However, there are no details provided about how many new cases were reported or where they occurred. This is misleading as it suggests that Michigan is experiencing a significant outbreak when in fact only one case has been confirmed. Secondly, the author quotes Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo stating that unvaccinated children should be allowed to attend school despite CDC guidance recommending otherwise. However, this quote is taken out of context and does not accurately reflect Dr. Ladapo's full statement which acknowledged the risks associated with measles outbreaks but emphasized individual freedom over public health measures. Thirdly, the author states that vaccination rates have fallen in part due to increased travel which can result in unvaccinated people acquiring measles abroad and bringing it back to the US. However, this is not entirely accurate as other factors such as vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaxx sentiment also contribute to falling vaccination rates. Finally, the author quotes experts recommending that children get two doses of the MMR vaccine for optimal protection against measles infection. However, they do not provide any evidence or research to support this claim which is misleading as there are ongoing debates about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines.
The article claims that Michigan has seen an increase in measles cases this week after a travel-related case was confirmed by the state's Department of Health and Human Services. However, no details are provided about how many new cases were reported or where they occurred.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a source of information without providing any context or critical analysis of their findings. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of vaccination rates in the US, stating that about 92% of children have gotten the MMR vaccine by age 2 but also mentioning that this is below the federal target and lower than it should be. This creates a false sense of urgency without providing any information on why vaccination rates are low or what can be done to improve them. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing measles as a
Bias
(80%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who choose not to vaccinate their children, portraying them as a threat to the community's health. Additionally, the author mentions Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo's letter which contradicts CDC guidance on excluding unvaccinated children from school for 21 days after exposure. This is an example of monetary bias as it suggests that parents who choose not to vaccinate their children are prioritizing their own financial interests over the health and safety of others in the community.
The author mentions Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo's letter which contradicts CDC guidance on excluding unvaccinated children from school for 21 days after exposure. For example, they say 'Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued a letter that deferred to parents on whether to send unvaccinated children to school, directly contradicting CDC guidance that recommends unvaccinated children be excluded from school for 21 days after exposure.' This is an example of monetary bias as it suggests that parents who choose not to vaccinate their children are prioritizing their own financial interests over the health and safety of others in the community.
The author uses language that dehumanizes those who choose not to vaccinate their children, portraying them as a threat to the community's health. For example, they say 'Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 but is still the most easily transmitted human virus presently in circulation.' This implies that unvaccinated people are responsible for keeping measles alive and spreading it.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Mira Cheng has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles outbreaks as she is reporting for CNN which has financial ties with pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines. Additionally, Dr. Marcus Plescia who was quoted in the article and serves as executive director of ASTHO, an organization that represents state health departments, may have a conflict of interest on this topic.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author Mira Cheng has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles outbreaks as she is reporting for CNN which has financial ties with pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines. Additionally, Dr. Marcus Plescia who was quoted in the article and is affiliated with ASTHO, an organization that represents state health officials and receives funding from vaccine manufacturers, also has a conflict of interest.
Measles was preventable with safe and effective vaccines.
Federal officials have voiced growing concern over the climb in measles cases as vaccination coverage has declined in many parts of the country.
Accuracy
The number of measles cases in the US has risen to 41 across 16 states.
Michigan is the new state included in CDC's tally, marking one of the steepest increases in recent history.
Measles was preventable with safe and effective vaccines, according to Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, head of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Measles cases globally have been rising with an increase in what WHO deems large or disruptive outbreaks in countries across Eastern Mediterranean, Europe and Asia.
Deception
(50%)
The article is misleading in several ways. Firstly, it states that the measles cases are on the rise when they have actually been declining for years. Secondly, it implies that vaccination coverage is low when in fact most people who contract measles are unvaccinated or have only received one dose of the vaccine. Thirdly, it suggests that communities with lower vaccination rates are at greater risk but fails to mention other factors such as travel and international exposure which also contribute to outbreaks.
The article states that 'measles was preventable with safe and effective vaccines' when in fact the vaccine is only 97% effective. This means that there will always be some people who contract measles despite being fully vaccinated.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the rise in measles cases as a 'comeback' and a 'steep increase'. They also use an appeal to authority by citing Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, head of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, without providing any context or evidence to support their claims. Additionally, the author uses dichotomous depiction when describing low vaccination coverage as a risk factor for measles outbreaks.
The rise in measles cases is described as a 'comeback' and a 'steep increase'
An appeal to authority is made by citing Dr. Demetre Daskalakis without providing any context or evidence
Low vaccination coverage is depicted as a risk factor for measles outbreaks
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Alexander Tin has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles as he is reporting for CBS News which is owned by ViacomCBS. This company also owns Nickelodeon and MTV, both channels that have been criticized in the past for promoting anti-vaccination content.
Alexander Tin reports on a rise in measles cases across the US, but fails to disclose his employer's history of promoting anti-vaccination content.
Florida has been increasing nonmedical vaccine exemptions since 2021.
The threshold for population immunity against measles is 95%.
Accuracy
Florida's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, wrote a letter that contradicts the standards of health practice for measles outbreaks by allowing unvaccinated children to attend school after exposure. He also failed to recommend vaccination for kids without immunity.
Keeping kids home from school can be hard, but it is sometimes necessary to keep them and other children healthy. Missing school also has disruption for parents, childcare, productivity and the economy.
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the Florida Department of Health's recommendation to allow unvaccinated children who may have been exposed to measles to attend school without isolation is unprecedented and dangerous. Secondly, despite local calls from public officials for vaccination, Ladapo has failed to recommend vaccination for kids without immunity. This is troubling because unvaccinated children can still get protection against measles if they get vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure. Many parents don't know this information and leaving it out is deceptive.
The Florida Department of Health's recommendation to allow unvaccinated children who may have been exposed to measles to attend school without isolation is unprecedented and dangerous.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when the author cites a letter from Florida's Surgeon General without providing any evidence of his qualifications or expertise in this matter. Additionally, there are two instances where the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing measles as 'dangerous', and stating that it can cause death and brain damage. The article also contains an example of a dichotomous depiction when the author describes Florida's growing skepticism towards vaccinations as being in opposition to public health, without providing any evidence or context for this claim.
The Surgeon General’s letter contradicts established public health practice by recommending that unvaccinated children can continue to attend school after exposure to measles. This is unprecedented and dangerous.
Bias
(75%)
The authors demonstrate bias by implying that the Surgeon General of Florida is putting children's health at risk and being deceptive. They also imply that there is a growing skepticism of vaccinations in Florida without providing evidence to support this claim.
But containing measles, which can spread quickly, should not be up for debate. Yet this is what is happening in Florida, and it’s putting children’s health at risk.
Children without the prior immune exposure that vaccines provide need to be isolated for 21 days after exposure to avoid contracting and further spreading this illness. `Second, despite local calls from public officials` to get children vaccinated, Ladapo has failed to recommend vaccination for kids without immunity.
`Florida’s health officials` risk accelerating a burgeoning measles outbreak
The situation is likely to get worse. Florida allows nonmedical vaccine exemptions, which have been slowly increasing in the state since 2021.
`The state's surgeon general`, Joseph Ladapo–who has gone against established public health practice before
This is happening in a state with `a growing skepticism of vaccinations` and an ongoing debate between individualism and the good of the larger population that came to a head during the COVID pandemic.
Unvaccinated children need to stay home after measles exposure to stop transmission. Failure to do so significantly increases the chances of a prolonged outbreak.
Site
Conflicts
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Interest (50%)
The article discusses the Florida Department of Health's decision to remove Dr. Joseph Ladapo as surgeon general after he issued a controversial order that banned schools from requiring students to get vaccinated against measles and other diseases.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles outbreak in Florida as they are reporting on an article written by surgeon general Joseph Ladapo who is known for his anti-vaccination stance.
A measles outbreak has occurred in Florida with confirmed cases in Broward and Polk counties
Nine total cases of measles have been confirmed by the Florida Department of Health
`Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo` has contradicted medical guidance on sending kids back to school with confirmed cases
`Ladapoas previous statements have been criticized by health experts and the CDC for undermining public trust in vaccines.
More kindergarteners in Florida have gone to school unvaccinated against measles over the last five years
The percentage of kindergarten students who submitted required immunization forms fell to 91.7% in the 2021-2022 school year
`Children who do not submit the forma must have an exemption on file: either a temporary medical exemption, a permanent medical exemption or a religious exemption
More than 3% of students claimed a religious exemension in the 2021-2022 school yeara, the highest ever
Measles cases have been reported in fifteen states nationwide with thirty five total cases as of February 22, according to the CDC
Accuracy
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has contradicted medical guidance on sending kids back to school with confirmed cases
`Ladapo` has previously called for a halt to COVID mRNA vaccines, which federal health officials say are safe and effective
More than 3% of students claimed a religious exemption in the 2021-2022 school year`, the highest ever
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author contradicts medical guidance by stating that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has told parents they could decide whether or not to send their kids back to school with confirmed cases of measles. This statement implies that vaccines are not effective and safe, which is false according to federal health officials who have repeatedly said that the COVID mRNA vaccines are safe and effective. Secondly, the article states that Florida reports falling vaccine rates in school kids but fails to mention any other state or country experiencing a similar issue. This omission implies that this problem only exists in Florida when it is actually a national issue with dropping rates of vaccination among kindergarteners since before the pandemic.
The article states that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has told parents they could decide whether or not to send their kids back to school with confirmed cases of measles. This statement implies that vaccines are not effective and safe, which is false according to federal health officials who have repeatedly said that the COVID mRNA vaccines are safe and effective.
The article states that Florida reports falling vaccine rates in school kids but fails to mention any other state or country experiencing a similar issue. This omission implies that this problem only exists in Florida when it is actually a national issue with dropping rates of vaccination among kindergarteners since before the pandemic.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as sources without providing any context or scrutiny of their claims. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of vaccination rates in Florida by stating that more kindergarteners are going to school unvaccinated against measles while also mentioning that children who do not submit the form must have an exemption on file. This creates a false sense of urgency and fear around vaccinations without providing any evidence or context for why this is happening. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has contradicted medical guidance, which could be seen as inciting panic among readers.
The article cites the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention without providing any context or scrutiny of their claims. This is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by stating that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has contradicted medical guidance by telling parents they could decide whether or not to send their kids back to the schools with confirmed cases, even though it is against federal health guidance.
More than 3% of students claimed a religious exemption in the 2021-2022 school year, the highest ever.
The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by stating that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has contradicted medical guidance by telling parents they could decide whether or not to send their kids back to the schools with confirmed cases, even though it is against federal health guidance.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the falling childhood vaccination rates in Florida and the state's measles outbreak. The author is Joseph Ladapo, who has a history of opposing COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and promoting vaccine hesitancy. He also has ties to Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, which could compromise his ability to report on this topic objectively.
The article mentions that Joseph Ladapo is a member of the Florida Department of Health's Vaccine Safety Review Committee and has been critical of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. This suggests a potential conflict of interest as he may have financial or professional ties to companies that produce these vaccines.
The article mentions that Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has been criticized for his stance on vaccine hesitancy and his efforts to limit mask mandates in schools. This suggests a potential conflict of interest as Ladapo is a member of DeSantis' administration.
Florida had recorded 10 measles cases in 2024 as of Thursday, according to the state Department of Health's website. They include nine in Broward County children, mostly linked to local spread at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, and one travel-related case in a Polk County adult.
Orlando Health treated four patients with measles in February at its Central Florida emergency departments.
AdventHealth Central Florida has not treated any cases since the outbreak in Weston.
Accuracy
At least 41 measles cases have been reported in 16 states since the start of the year.
The number of measles cases globally has been rising with an increase in what WHO deems large or disruptive outbreaks in countries across Eastern Mediterranean, Europe and Asia.
Deception
(50%)
The article contains several examples of deception. Firstly, the author claims that Florida had recorded 10 measles cases in 2024 as of Thursday but fails to mention that this number includes out-of-state residents who caught the virus elsewhere and were treated here. This is a lie by omission since it misleads readers into thinking there are more cases than what has been reported. Secondly, the author states that unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of catching measles if exposed but fails to mention that this number includes those who have previously had measles and recovered from it. This is another lie by omission since it misleads readers into thinking there are more risks associated with being unvaccinated than what has been reported. Lastly, the author claims that vaccines side effects are typically mild but fails to mention that some people may experience severe reactions such as anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. This is a lie by omission since it misleads readers into thinking there are no serious risks associated with vaccines.
The author claims that vaccines side effects are typically mild but fails to mention that some people may experience severe reactions such as anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. This is a lie by omission since it misleads readers into thinking there are no serious risks associated with vaccines.
The author states that unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of catching measles if exposed but fails to mention that this number includes those who have previously had measles and recovered from it. This is another lie by omission since it misleads readers into thinking there are more risks associated with being unvaccinated than what has been reported.
The author claims Florida had recorded 10 measles cases in 2024 but fails to mention that this number includes out-of-state residents who caught the virus elsewhere and were treated here. This is a lie by omission since it misleads readers into thinking there are more cases than what has been reported.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Caroline Catherman has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles in Florida as she is an employee of AdventHealth Central Florida which provides healthcare services for patients with measles symptoms and administers vaccines. Additionally, Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, Broward County children are affected by this outbreak.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Caroline Catherman has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles in Florida as she is an employee at AdventHealth Central Florida which provides healthcare services related to measles and vaccines.
