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BLFisher Note: It is not surprising that an atypical, more virulent measles virus is developing in response to mass use of a vaccine that could very well be putting pressure on the virus to mutate into vaccine-resistant forms. In 1998, the CDC reported the identification of eight distinct genotypes of a wild type measles virus in populations round the world. That same year, there was a measles outbreak in Alaska in which 51 percent of children who got measles had received one or more doses of measles vaccine. Also in 1998 researchers reported whooping cough (pertussis) increases in highly vaccinated populations in Europe. Among potential causes: increased incidence of strains of B. pertussis with a mutated surface protein. Viruses and bacteria, which fight to survive like any other living organism, have proved that they can become antibiotic resistant. Why not vaccine-resistant?

New measles strain strikes high school students MITO -- A group of mainly junior high school pupils have been confirmed as the first large-scale outbreak of a lethal strain of measles, according to the National Center for Contagious Diseases.

Over 100 people were struck by the H-1 type measles in February and March this year. It is a rare strain of the disease that broke out in Hong Kong some three years ago.

Compounding fears about the strain, a large swathe of those afflicted this year had been immunized against the measles, but the vaccination's effects had weakened over time.

"A new type of (measles) virus arose just as the immunity (provided by vaccination) was weakening, causing the large- scale outbreak," a center spokesman said. "People should actively pursue vaccination and be prepared to be vaccinated again following a certain period of time."

Ibaraki Prefectural Government officials said that the new strain of measles was detected in 109 people aged from a few months to 62. The large majority of those afflicted, 78, were junior high school pupils. Of 86 pupils, a number that includes those only suspected of having contracted the disease, 61 had been vaccinated for the measles.

Center officials said that Japan is usually afflicted by two types of measles, the D3 strain and D5 strain.

However, they learned the strain that broke out in Kitaibaraki was of type H1.

Measles vaccinations are usually performed somewhere between 12 and 90 months of birth. However, center officials said that only about 80 percent of people undergo measles vaccination.

Recently, vaccinations have also developed a tendency to weaken in effect over time. Much debate over health issues has been devoted to repeat immunization.

Some pupils affected by the outbreak of the new measles virus had been vaccinated, but their symptoms were not as harsh as those who had not been immunized.

Measles causes fever and rashes to break out, with severe cases leading to encephalitis or pneumonia. The effects can often be greater if contracted by an adult.

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare statistics show that of the 35,302 reported cases of measles in Japan last year, those over 18 accounted for 925 instances.

Of the 21 people who died through the measles in 2001, 10 were 18 or over. (Mainichi Shimbun, Oct. 28, 2002)

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