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Thanks to advances in preventive care, many of the world’s deadliest diseases have become extremely rare, if not fully eradicated. Following a proper vaccination schedule for children, as well as booster recommendations for adults, saves lives and keeps communities healthy. Here are four diseases that have become nearly obsolete in countries with access to vaccines. 

4 Diseases Prevented With Vaccines 

1. Polio

In the mid-20th century, about 35,000 people were diagnosed with polio annually, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The highly contagious disease mostly affected children between ages one and five, causing meningitis, fever, paralysis, and sometimes death. It was one of the most severe public health crises in American history until a vaccine was invented in the 1950s. Although outbreaks still occur in developing countries, complete eradication is possible with vaccinations. No cases have been reported in the U.S. since 1979.

2. Smallpox

The smallpox vaccine was a significant scientific breakthrough. The first vaccine invented, it put an end to the highly contagious disease. Populations in ancient Rome and China, Africa, and Europe, were affected, as were indigenous North, Central, and South American people when Europeans spread the disease to these areas. Symptoms included rash, lesions, and fever. About 30% of people who contracted the disease died. The World Health Organization declared its official eradication in 1980. It’s the only disease-causing virus that has been completely eliminated. 

3. Measles

preventativecareThis condition still exists, although it’s significantly rarer than it once was as a result of preventative medicine. In 2013, the World Health Organization reported it killed about 16 people an hour, primarily in developing countries, and mostly children under age five. Before 1980, about 2.6 million people died every year from measles. The disease typically manifests as a rash that begins in the face and spreads to the body. Additional symptoms include high fever, blindness, brain infection, and death. Measles outbreaks have occurred in the U.S. in recent years as a result of unvaccinated children contracting and spreading the disease.

4. Tetanus

Tetanus causes pain, muscle stiffness, and lockjaw, and can lead to death. Tetanus vaccines are regularly admitted as a part of the preventive care regimen DTaP, a shot which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) — diseases largely wiped out thanks to modern medicine. Doctors recommend children get five doses of the DTaP vaccine on an age-based schedule. 

 

If you or your child need vaccinations or other preventive care in the Mid-Willamette Valley area, turn to Santiam Hospital in Marion County, OR. Since 1953, they’ve been the community’s reliable source of comprehensive health care for all ages. From primary care clinics to specialized care and surgery, they provide everything you need to keep your family healthy. Call (503) 769-2175 to schedule an appointment or visit the website to learn more about all they have to offer. 

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