The other day I wrote about the measles outbreak in Minnesota. It’s a situation that is causing major problems across the spectrum. Well, it’s gotten worse. Last week there were 30 cases. By Thursday there were 41 cases.

Minnesota measles outbreak rises to 41, including first case outside Somali community https://t.co/D7Clf7mX92 pic.twitter.com/0kWMuYx03Y

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) May 4, 2017

As of today, there are now 44 children suffering from measles in Minnesota. It’s the worst outbreak in 30 years. Unfortunately it’s not just those children and their families that are affected. Measles is incredibly dangerous to those with any type of autoimmune disease, cancer, or to the elderly who have weakened immune systems. Thus the hospitals have had to either cancel major procedures for cancer patients or sent them elsewhere to hospitals that aren’t currently treating measles patients.

Let me repeat that. The risk that measles is posing to others has led to doctors and hospitals postponing or moving care of their other patients to another location in order to keep them safe. That is, as long as the measles doesn’t follow the patients to other counties.

What is one of the major causes of the Somali community NOT vaccinating their children? Cue up the discredited “scientist/doctor/charletan” Andrew Wakefield.

Wakefield, a British activist who now lives in Texas, visited Minneapolis at least three times in 2010 and 2011 to meet privately with Somali parents of autistic children, according to local anti-vaccine advocates. Wakefield’s prominence stems from a 1998 study he authored, which claimed to show a link between the vaccine and autism. The study was later identified as fraudulent and was retracted by the medical journal that published it, and his medical license was revoked.

Wakefield and his fellow anti-vaxxers have and continue to play on the fears of the unknown. This is particularly heinous when you consider the community affected. A community of immigrants coming from a country that knows very little about the benefits of vaccinations and good healthcare. Wakefield and his minions played on the Somali’s fears far too well.

Thanks, @DrWakefield, thanks for the measles. The outbreak in Minnesota among the Somali is getting worse. https://t.co/rZjpNbxqOZ

— David Gorski (@gorskon) May 5, 2017

The comments from families affected is both heartbreaking and infuriating. This from Suuado Salah:

“I thought: ‘I’m in America. I thought I’m in a safe place and my kids will never get sick in that disease,’ ”

Unfortunately her children did.

When meetings have been held in recent days to discuss the outbreak and urge the communities to vaccinate, they don’t go well. The anti-vaxxer crowd has done far too good of a job playing on the fears that vaccines cause autism.

It doesn’t matter that multiple science studies are now finding out that autism has genetic risk factors, may develop prior to birth, and starts manifesting itself at birth, many Somali parents still feel that measles, which can cause brain damage or death, is less risky than autism so they choose not to vaccinate. Yes, I too had to pick my jaw up off the floor after reading that bit of “logic.”

However, before all the anti-vaxxers get their shorts in a knot, they might want to read the following:

All but two cases happened in people who were not vaccinated, and nearly all were in the immigrant community in Hennepin County, a densely populated county that is home to Minneapolis and its suburbs.

“The outbreak started among Somali Minnesotans who have a low vaccination rate for M.M.R.,” he said, referring to the shot for measles, mumps, rubella. [Emphasis Added]

Did y’all get that? Out of the 44 cases thus far, 42 of them were not vaccinated. The other two were, but one’s immune system had been compromised prior to contracting the measles.

The elderly, infants, children, cancer patients, and others battling a host of different autoimmune diseases along with entire counties in Minnesota are at risk because of this outbreak and it will be months before it subsides. MONTHS.

The anti-vaxxers led by charlatan snake oil salesman Andrew Wakefield played upon the fears and superstitions of the Somali community. They did their job all too well and this measles outbreak is the result.