Disney Linked Measles Outbreak Worsens
PAUL: 47 minutes past the hour. Take a look at this map, won't you? These are the states where people, many children, have the measles right now. Total of 68 people, about 30 of them are kids, nearly all of those who are sick visited Disneyland in southern California. 48 linked to the theme park. But that leaves 20 who are not. The 68 confirmed cases we have here. So let's bring in Dr. Isaac Thomsen. He's a pediatrician at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine joining us from Nashville. Doctor, thank you for being here -- what do you attribute this outbreak to? Why is it making a comeback?</s>DR. ISAAC THOMSEN, PEDIATRICIAN: You know, what we know about measles is it's a vaccine preventable illness so we've been giving the measles vaccine in this country for almost 50 years and because of that measles has become extremely rare. What we know about the vaccines is that it's extremely safe, so millions upon millions have received this vaccine over decades. And it's incredibly effective; it's at least 99 percent effective in preventing measles. What we also know about the vaccine is that it requires people to take it. Measles is an extremely contagious virus, one of the most contagious viruses that we know of. And because it's so contagious it requires about 90 to 95 percent coverage of the vaccine in a community or in a population. If the percentage of people that are vaccinated drops below that 90 to 95 percent window that becomes a vulnerable population to infection and you can get outbreaks exactly like we're seeing here.</s>PAUL: Yes. And we were talking about being part of the park. But now with 20 of these 68 not affiliated with the park, I'm wondering what do you suggest we do to try to contain it?</s>THOMSEN: You know, the most important thing is any one that has not been vaccinated it's time to become vaccinated. Unfortunately sometimes what it takes, many generations now have not seen these illnesses and they don't have an appreciation and understanding, even a fear of these serious infections and many think that it's more a theoretical thing. And outbreaks like this drive home that this is a very real threat to our society. You know, I think it's especially important to remember that there are some who can't receive the vaccine. There are children and adults who have issues with their immune system, serious illnesses, they can't receive the vaccine and they rely on us in society to do our part to protect them by a concept that's called herd protection, where if enough of the rest of the population becomes vaccinated these outbreaks will stop. You know we need 90 to 95 percent vaccination and we can halt outbreaks like this.</s>PAUL: Dr. Isaac Thomson, great point you make about the fact that if we haven't experienced it we forget how dangerous it is. Thank you so much. We appreciate your insight here -- Victor.</s>THOMSEN: Thank you.</s>BLACKWELL: Former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is set to stand trial for murder. Up next, the road blocks the prosecution is running into and why Hernandez's fiancee could be the star witness.