At least eight people have been diagnosed with measles in an outbreak that started last month in the Philadelphia area. The most recent two cases were confirmed on Monday.

The outbreak began after a child who’d recently spent time in another country was admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with an infection, which was subsequently identified as measles. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health considers the case to be “imported” but did not say from where.

The disease then spread to three other people at CHOP, two of whom were already hospitalized there for other reasons.

Two of those infected at the hospital were a parent and child. The child had not been vaccinated and the parent was offered medication usually given to unvaccinated people that can prevent infection after exposure to measles, but refused it, the Philadelphia Inquirer first reported.

Despite quarantine instructions, the child was sent to day care on Dec. 20 and 21, the health department said.

  • @Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    10511 months ago

    Sending a child with a highly infectious disease that is as dangerous and potentially deadly as measles into a day care should be held accountable. This is reckless endangerment of other peoples’ lives.

    • @TheDarksteel94@sopuli.xyz
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      3511 months ago

      The parents and the child were unvaccinated and the parents refused medication. I’d hazard a guess that they’re on that anti-vax esoteric shit.

      • @ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
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        11 months ago

        Hopefully DCFS can investigate them then. They are endangering not just the lives of their own child but others too. I would be livid if I was a parent and these idiots got my kid sick.

    • GladiusB
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      2011 months ago

      Agreed. It would be nice if people weren’t so pressured to go to work for money that they could take care of children rather than feeling like you need to abandon them for a job. I’m not saying they did this. But over 3/4 of my sick days last year was to take of my kid. And when I had COVID, I was out and the statutes to pay me were gone.

      • @YeetPics@mander.xyz
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        511 months ago

        This is why it’s very important to think fiscally when deciding to have a baby. Those things are damn pricy!

        • @SapphironZA@lemmings.world
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          1111 months ago

          It’s also very important to vote carefully before deciding to have a baby. In most 1st world countries, you get a few family responsibilities leave days a year, that an employer cannot deny.

          Under law in those countries, you are a parent first and an employee second. That comes with privileges and responsibilities.

          • @YeetPics@mander.xyz
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            11 months ago

            Trying to understand how this is good advice…

            If my votes don’t get the politicians I like into office don’t reproduce?

            If I get pregnant move to a country that has better maternity benefits?

            • @SapphironZA@lemmings.world
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              110 months ago

              What I meant, is that if you plan to have kids, you may want to vote for politicians that will give your children the best future, even after they are born.

        • flipht
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          711 months ago

          This is a very nuanced issue, and I won’t be able to explain my thoughts without someone whatabouting it.

          And while you’re right, it is absolutely insane that we blame individuals for the exploitive nature of society.

          Kids are expensive because businesses realized they could charge whatever for everything and then run ad campaigns about how bad of a parent you are for not buying their product or service. Simultaneously cutting every public, infrastructural component that used to support parents.

      • @Treczoks@lemmy.world
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        411 months ago

        Poor Americans. I just can’t imagine having to deal with limited sick days. If I’m sick for more than six weeks in a row, I get a little less money, and then from my health insurance instead of my boss, but that’s the only limit that is.