An anti-vaxx town in the US is currently being gripped by the world’s most infectious disease – a horror measles outbreak that has so far killed two children. But residents in Seminole, Texas, are standing firm on their decision to stay vaccine free, with many claiming the jabs contain “dangerous stuff” and that big pharma have only manufactured them to make money.
This is despite the town’s most recent tragedy – the death of eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand – who is now the second child to die from an escalating measles crisis sweeping Seminole. Her devastated father, Peter Hildebrand, is convinced his daughter did not die from the killer disease. He said: “She did not die of the measles. If there’s one thing you should know, it’s that. She was failed.” But Daisy’s death was confirmed to be from measles by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The dad added: “‘The [MMR] vaccine ain’t worth a damn. My brother’s family got it and they all still got sick — worse than my unvaccinated kids. This isn’t about the vaccine.” Hidlebrand believes Daisy died due to a failure in her medical care, including inadequate treatment and prejudice against the family for their Mennonite faith – a small Christian sect that favours “natural remedies” over modern medicine, MailOnline reports.
Daisy became ill around a month ago, developing a fever and a sore throat, followed by pneumonia. After the family’s home remedy of cod liver oil failed, they took Daisy to the hospital, where she was diagnosed her with strep throat, mononucleosis (a contagious viral infection) and measles. Daisy was given antibiotics and sent home, but her condition deteriorated just three days later.
She was then rushed back to the hospital with severe pneumonia and treated again, but this time, she did not survive. Daisy was the second child to die from measles after six-year-old Kayley Fehr – who also unvaccinated and part of the same Mennonite community – died just weeks earlier.
Despite the tragedies, residents in Seminole are still hesitant to have their children vaccinated. Two Mennonite residents, Helen and Helena, had conflicting views on the jabs. One said she vaccinated her children because it was the right thing to do, while the other said she didn’t – believing infections like measles “make their immune system stronger”.
Another resident, Joselyn said she doesn’t want to vaccinate her children because she claims to know people who have suffered adverse reactions. Judy said her family have gone without the MMR vaccine because they “don’t like the things in it”. Of the 700 measles cases in the US, 541 have been recorded in Texas alone – and 70% of these cases are among children and young babies.
Measles is an infectious virus that weakens the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to secondary infections like pneumonia. Those who are vaccinated have a significantly lower risk of falling ill, as the jab is 93% effective at preventing infections after one dose, and 97% effective after a second.
Many in the Mennonite community however believe vaccinations should be a personal choice, even though they are not strictly forbidden in scripture. Around 3,000 people out of 22,000 in Gaines County follow the Mennonite faith, according to figures released in 2010.
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