Columns

I cannot help but reflect on the ongoing ebola epidemic in West Africa when reading about the recent outbreak of measles due in large part to an anti-vaccination sentiment.  

Ebola spread rapidly because of poor existing medical infrastructure plus in large part to misinformation and fear about a disease the populace knew little about. And there is no known FDA-approved ebola vaccine or medicine available. Whereas with measles, we have a safe and cost-effective vaccine that had all but eradicated the disease until the recent outbreak.  

Yet, like West Africa, we see irrational fear, ignorance, and misinformation. Or to put it bluntly, the anti-vaccinators are letting ignorance or just plain stubbornness get in the way of controlling a controllable disease. And at what cost to public health?