The student news website of Omaha Central High School

Central’s easiest disease

October 1, 2019

Measles is a viral infection that is serious for children but is easily preventable by a vaccine; the disease spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. The definition may seem daunting— because it is.   

With the release of the widely used Measles vaccine in 1971, fewer than 1,000 cases were reported in the United States per yearAlthough, in recent years, a countrywide craze for home medicine has caused that number to increase drastically.  

Since the fear of autism boomed around the 2010’s, many young parents have been searching for their own form of a solution. Out of every possible environmental or genetic possibility, the blame falls on the MMR vaccination, given to children around one year of age. 

The number of unvaccinated kids nowadays has caused measles, once thought to be nearly eradicated, to resurface in the United States. There have been major outbreaks all along the East Coast, and rapidly spreading to the Midwest, including Nebraska.  

A major dwelling place for the virus is a high school. Bustling halls and germ-infested hand railings, gym class jerseys and small classrooms. Central, in particular, is a breeding ground for viruses such as the measles; the hot, humid rooms, poorly ventilated airways, and little space for many people pose a threat to the health of nearly 3,000 students. 

Vaccinations do not keep one safe. If everyone in a room has received the MMR vaccination, no one could contract measles out of thin air. However, if one person is unvaccinated, the entire room could potentially be contaminated within minutes. This is also true on a larger scale, such as Central High.  

If only one student contracted measles, and attended school the following day, the Butterfly Effect would take full reign on the luck of the rest of the students. If said student attended his or her first period, 48% of that class would catch the virus. Afterwards, even though the student would be moving to second period, the contaminated germs would linger in his or her first our classroom for two hours following.  

Now, every student of the 48% from first period is attending the rest of their classes. In each class, he or she will contaminate 48% of that class. This cycle would remain in place till nearly half of Central students had contracted the measles.  

Even after the students would be taken to the hospital for treatment, the germs would spread through every airway, infecting 48% of teachers, including Papa Eagle. 

Although only 92% of all children are vaccinated, there is a certain sense of trust established throughout Central. While many different cultures are celebrated in what may be Nebraska’s most diverse high school, there has yet to be a measles outbreak, despite how contagious it is. Measles is what you force it to be; it can be eradicated, or it can linger throughout the dust-filled ventilation of Central High. 

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