OT: Mumps outbreak at the Ohio State University of Viruses

Submitted by Shakey Jake on

How does that saying go, "Karma is a ........."

Bad jokes aside, this is horrible news for the university. I hope they can contain it because these things can spread very quickly.

But, it could be a useful recruiting tool for Michigan to point out that OSU is a petri dish of harmful viruses.

And if Aaron Craft was smart, he'll start using the fact he had the mumps as to why he choked.

http://news.yahoo.com/mumps-outbreak-ohio-state-grows-23-cases-21563907…-

ijohnb

March 18th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^

working theory is that a genetic abnormality is the dominant cause of autism but that theory is not without notable detractors.  The consensus, if there is one, is that there may be certain genes giving certain individuals a predisposition to develop the traits connected to spectrum disorders, but there is a growing body of evidence that the disease is affected by environmental factors both during pregnancy and after birth, and that the disorder may very well be triggered by gastrointenstinal and digestive factors as well.  So the consensus is there is no consensus, nor is it clear whether incidents of the disorder are increasing, though many suspect that they are dramatically.  I think it is hard to rule out anything, including vaccinations at this point. 

Gameboy

March 18th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^

You can't rule out watching TV causes autism. You can't rule out eating hamburgers cause autism. You can't rule out visiting Mgoblog causes autism.

However, EVERY peer-reviewed published studies have shown that there is absolutely no connection between autism and vaccine.

ijohnb

March 18th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^

As of this date, there is no existing evidence that a connection exists between vaccinations and autism.  In the absence of scientific evidence showing a connection, parents should continue to have their children vaccinated according to the established guidelines and schedule.  However, given the frequently observed correlation between the time that many of the vaccinations are given and the onset of symptoms in previously developmentally healthly children, research should continue for the purpose of determining whether vaccines, along with and in conjuction with other environmental factors, could play a role in the development of the disorder or the severity of symptoms.

Is there anything wrong with that?  If so, what?

MI Expat NY

March 18th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^

Rephrased to what you're actually saying: I don't care how many studies have shown there is no link between vaccination and autism, keep studying until you find one that justifies my position.  

wile_e8

March 18th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^

This is a strawman argument. No one is saying we should stop research into autism. It should continue until we do find a cause for the disorder, which is why research into the cause has never stopped. However, that research has determined that vaccines are *not* the cause, so inisting on further research into that topic is a waste of money that could be used to find the actual cause.

Blue Since B.C.

March 18th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^

A lot of modern "research" today is being funded by big pharma. And where do many politicians biggest campaign contributions come from? Pharma is the biggest lobbyist in DC. They are in the CDC's pocket too.

I have friends on both sides of this argument. Smart people, all of them. I don't think it's as cut and dry as the up votes on here are making it appear.

For example: http://www.getholistichealth.com/39356/cdc-caught-hiding-data-showing-m…

Don't crucify me, but let's not be so quick to dismiss other people's viewpoints. If your child developed autism after birth, you might approach the issue in a very different way.

gwkrlghl

March 18th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^

But IIRC, the whole thing that got this Vaccinations = Autism thing was a hack doctor who was either paid to do the study or just was on a mission to publish a study that said what he really wished was true. If he doesn't do that, I'm not sure anyone is discussing any possibility of causation and the anti-vaccination movement may not exist

Junk science is leading to the return and continued existence of numerous diseases that we should've wiped from the face of the earth by now

Jonesy

March 18th, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^

Exactly, the only reason anyone thinks vaccinations cause autism is because of one hack who just made it up.

Kinda like why everyone thinks MSG is bad for you, one writer in a newspaper noticing his friends getting headaches after eating chinese food and deciding its because of MSG>

Kinda like why all of america is fat because the food pyramid is built on a base of grains and demonizes dietary fat because of Ancel Keys' seven countries study which only actually showed a correlation between fat consumption and heart disease and only did so because people in poor countries dont die from heart disease (they die from other stuff) and being in a poor country dont eat as much dietary fat.

If ijohnb replaced 'vaccinations cause autism' with 'god exists' I wonder how many people would completely change their tune...

DC_BLUE

March 18th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^

the big pharma argument is garbage because there are just as many scum bags if not more lining their pockets pushing the autism argument and other "holistic" treatments, also it not just the US  but many other countries where because of their nationalized health systems big pharma is not as powerful that are pushing vaccinations as well

StellaBlue

March 18th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^

There are clearly both environmental and genetic components.  I would argue that there is not "a" genetic abnormality, but rather a very large suite of genotypes that can predispose toward autism.  If it were "a" single allele (gene variant) then we would ahve found it by now.  When you combine a very large number of predisposing gene variants with environmental effects that themselves may vary with genotype, you get things that are very hard to nail down, like autism, adult onset diabetes, multiple sclerosis and on and on. You are right that there well may be an immune system connection (overly simplified: growing up in too sterile of environments seems to be causing us all sorts of problems).

 

That said, one envrionmental area that has been looked at extensively is the possible effect of vaccines.  NO FLIPPING EVIDENCE AT ALL.  NONE!  It is not balanced to say that since it is complex and we do not know everything that everything is on the table.  We have ruled out vaccines as causing autism.  It is a deadly suggestion and not part of a balanced treatment.

Nitro

March 19th, 2014 at 12:41 AM ^

I've seen wonderful benefits for my personal gastrointenstinal and digestive issues with chlorella.  My preferred brand is Raw Power, in powder form.  A double serving of that in water with scoops of hemp protein powder and Organic Traditions sprouted & milled chia seed makes me feel like my shits are clearing out everything that's wrong and doesn't belong.

Nitro

March 18th, 2014 at 8:41 AM ^

Very doubtful in Columbus. Studies have shown parents that choose not to vaccinate their children tend to be from a more educated and well-off sector of the general population (they're the people who grocery shop at expensive natural health stores and get milk delivered through their cow-shares). This outbreak is clearly the result of poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions.

bigmc6000

March 18th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^

what studies you're talking about but my anecdotal evidence from the people I know who don't vaccinate here in Texas is the complete opposite.  All the intelligent, well educated parents vaccinate because they know the myth of autism being related make no sense so it's the people who are gullible and uneducated that get on the bandwagon.  Maybe it varies state to state or maybe region to region?

 

ijohnb

March 18th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^

that is so frustrating.  Nobody knows what causes autism, and it actually does not seem like anybody wants to know nor whether the symptons can be exacerbated by certain toxins.  All possible causes should continue to be explored whether or not you, apparent autism specialist, believe they have merit or not.

Alright, I am out of here.  This is a complicated topic and not one that should be basically just thrown around like this.  There is a lot of self indulgent nonsense being tossed around on this thread.

In reply to by ijohnb

Mabel Pines

March 18th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^

That's coming from someone who thinks it's OK for a parent to allegedly protect their child from autism while possible exposing thousands of others to diseases whose complications include Death.

How about not belittling people who disagree with you?

Nitro

March 19th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^

It was a study by the CDC: http://www.pedsource.com/node/6788

Basically, the CDC concluded that children who were vaccinated (but not fully) tend to come from homes run by poor, unmarried, badly educated mothers, whereas children who were never vaccinated tend to come from homes where they are well-provided for, with married parents who possess a college degree.

While there are certainly other groups who don't vaccinate (Christian Scientists, Amish, old-fashioned rural country folk), it terms of the group driving the "anti-vaccine movement," it's people in the natural health community, which rejects a broad range of modern medical practices and uses of industrial chemicals beyond simply vaccines.

But the basic thrust of my post was that people in Columbus are uneducated and dirty, and that Columbus is filthy in general.  Figured making that point would have collected lots of upvotes...but it appears everyone here was too hopped up on group-mobbing and lashing judgment on the poster who indicated that he might possibly have some questions about vaccinations to notice.  The groupthink herd mentality has always been pretty pervasive on this board.

MI Expat NY

March 18th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^

Unvaccinated children are the vehicle by which these diseases that were once essentially gone from the U.S. get spread to adults who's previous vaccinations are no longer effective.  It doesn't really matter what the typical anti-vax parent looks like, the fact that they exist has severely hurt herd immunity and can lead to outbreaks among people who would never buy into the vaccination-autism b.s. 

Maison Bleue

March 18th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^

I will just leave this here: LINK

Pretty funny stuff, finally Twitter used for good instead of evil.

On a side note, Katie Curic has dipped her toes into hot water recently, when she aired a very one sided anti-Gardasil (HPV Vaccine) show. 

It is one thing when a moron ex-Playboy model spouts stupid from her talk hole, it's quite another when it comes from someone that is considered a reputable journalist. 

Maison Bleue

March 18th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^

Well I did qualify journalist with the word considered, but yes she is essentially a ratings whore now. That doesn't take away from the fact that many people watched her on NBC/CBS news for 12 years and consider her a journalist. IMO it is much more dangerous for the public to be hearing it from someone like Couric, than Jenny "Singled Out" McCarthy.