OPINION
Wallowa County Chieftain
A4
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Measles too
dangerous
to ignore
A
s a society, we have made such prog-
ress against once-common illnesses that
we forget they are still around and still
potentially life-threatening. The measles out-
break in Southeast Washington exemplifies what
can happen if we lower our vigilance – and our
vaccinations.
High rates of vaccination kept measles under
control in the U.S., with about 60 cases annu-
ally during
2000 to 2010,
according
to the Mayo
Blue Mountain Eagle
Clinic. In
recent years,
that average has climbed to 205 cases, most often
among people who either were unvaccinated or
did not know whether they were. There were 350
cases in the U.S. last year.
As of this writing, 35 confirmed cases and 11
suspected cases have occurred this month in Clark
County, Washington, and one in Oregon’s Mult-
nomah County. At least 30 of the patients had not
been immunized – even though getting the com-
bined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is safer
than contracting measles.
Measles is so contagious, and potentially fatal
in young children, that Washington Gov. Jay Ins-
lee has declared a state of emergency. People who
visited more than 40 locations in the Vancou-
ver-Portland area might have been exposed.
“It’s one of the most contagious viruses we
have. It can have really serious complications,”
said Dr. Alan Melnick, the Clark County health
officer. “And it’s entirely preventable with an
incredibly cheap and safe vaccine.”
But the measles vaccination rate in Clark
County was only 78 percent.
People forget that measles killed hundreds of
people each year, and caused serious health com-
plications for thousands more, before the disease
was declared eradicated in the U.S. at the start of
the 21st century.
But measles persisted elsewhere. Around the
world, more than 100,000 people die from mea-
sles each year, most of them children under age 5.
The measles outbreak in the Vancouver-Port-
land area, combined with an increase in flu cases,
has caused some Oregon hospitals to restrict
visitors.
Flu is so common that people often forget
about its potential consequences as well. Yet influ-
enza and related complications killed an estimated
80,000 Americans last winter, far above a typi-
cal year because last year’s vaccine was not as
effective.
The influenza virus mutates, so each year’s
vaccine is formulated to provide immunity against
the strains considered most probable to cause an
outbreak. That is why getting a flu vaccine each
year matters. Many Americans don’t do so.
Influenza and related conditions hospitalized
1,562 people in Oregon last year and led to the
deaths of three children. Although last year’s vac-
cine was less effective, an Oregon Health Author-
ity study found that seniors who got high-dose flu
shots were less likely to be hospitalized.
“Pandemic,” a popular board game, shows how
easily diseases can spread. The Vancouver-Port-
land measles outbreak is not nearly an epidemic,
let alone a pandemic. Neither is this year’s flu sea-
son in Oregon.
But it is worth noting that this winter is the
100th anniversary of the worst pandemic in
recorded history. As the flu mutated into a global
killer, it took the lives of 50 million to 100 mil-
lion people, including about 675,000 in the U.S.
during the course of one year.
This grim anniversary is a reminder that we
dare not forget the past, ignore what could happen
in the future – or fail to get our vaccinations.
To quote a Washington Post story from last
year about the pandemic, “the 1918 nightmare
serves a reminder. If a virulent enough strain were
to emerge again, a century of modern medicine
might not save millions from dying.”
There were no worthwhile flu vaccines in
1917-18. There are today, just as there is a mea-
sles vaccine.
GUEST EDITORIAL
Mom and dad, cool it
I
f you are the mother or father of a
high school athlete here in Oregon,
this message is primarily for you.
When you attend an athletic event
that involves your son or daughter,
cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the
camaraderie that high school sports
offer and have fun. But when it comes
to verbally criticizing game officials or
coaches, cool it.
Make no mistake about it. Your pas-
sion is admired, and your support of
the hometown team is needed. But so
is your self-control. Yelling, scream-
ing and berating the officials humiliates
your child, annoys those sitting around
you, embarrasses your child’s school
and is the primary reason Oregon has
an alarming shortage of high school
officials.
It’s true. According to a recent sur-
vey by the National Association of
Sports Officials, more than 75 percent
of all high school officials say “adult
GUEST EDITORIAL
Karissa Niehoff
behavior” is the primary reason they
quit. And 80 percent of all young offi-
cials hang up their stripes after just two
years of whistle blowing. Why? They
don’t need your abuse.
Plus, there’s a ripple effect. There
are more officials over 60 than under
30 in many areas. And as older, expe-
rienced officials retire, there aren’t
enough younger ones to replace them.
If there are no officials, there are no
games. The shortage of licensed high
school officials is severe enough in
some areas that athletic events are
being postponed or cancelled — espe-
cially at the freshman and junior var-
sity levels.
Research confirms that participa-
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Gun bills infringe on Constitution
I note with anger that you hid info
on the pending gun bills on page 15 of
the latest edition of the Chieftain.
I am an 83-year-old former Marine
who served 22 months in combat in
Vietnam.
I also remember the 19-year-old kid
who took a round to his chest while
saving my life.
Would you have taken his rifle
away from him?
The 2nd Amendment says, “shall
not be infringed. That makes these
members of our State Congress
infringers of our rights.
Bob Geller
Joseph
Where’s the conservative
voice in Salem?
I had to laugh out loud at the front
page article “A Citizens Guide to find-
ing your voice at the Capitol!” If you
are a God fearing, patriotic conserva-
tive you haven’t had a voice in Salem
in over 30 years!
Jerry Crandall
Joseph, Oregon
Oregon debates gun
reform
I read the article in the latest Chief-
tain, regarding Oregon SB501. The
article said it would require you to
get a permit for any gun transaction.
The article fails to mention, it is much
more than that.
SB501 requires: (1) A ban on mag-
azines holding more than five rounds.
(2) Limits purchases to 20 rounds per
month. (3) Permits for gun purchases.
(4) Background check on ammo pur-
chase. And (5) 14 day waiting period.
SB501 is without a doubt the worst
gun law proposal yet, with more hid-
den problems than one can see. This
bill was conceived by a “church”
group in Portland, along with some
202-228-3997.
Oregon offices — One
World Trade Center, 121 S.W.
Salmon St., Suite 1250, Port-
land, OR 97204; and 310 S.E.
Second St., Suite 105, Pend-
leton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-
326-3386; 541-278-1129. Fax:
503-326-2990.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden,
R (Second District) — 1404
Longworth Building, Wash-
ington D.C. 20515. Phone:
202-225-6730. No direct
e-mail because of spam. Web
site: www.walden.house.
gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Med-
ford office: 14 North Cen-
tral, Suite 112, Medford, OR
97501. Phone: 541-776-4646.
Fax: 541-779-0204.
M eMber O regOn n ewspaper p ublishers a ssOciatiOn
Published every Wednesday by: EO Media Group
USPS No. 665-100
P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828
Office: 209 NW First St., Enterprise, Ore.
Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921
Contents copyright © 2019. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
Lake Oswego students. Apparently
by people that know little to noth-
ing about guns, but seek to disarm the
legal gun owners of Oregon. Make no
mistake.
This is a direct attack on the Sec-
ond Amendment rights of every legal
gun owner in Oregon. Everyone needs
to contact Salem and voice their oppo-
sition to such insanity. Remember
the “mid-terms”, when the wishes
of 5 counties, outweighed the votes
in the rest of the 31 counties in Ore-
gon. If you don’t think something like
this could ever pass, you would be
mistaken.
It is time for the rest of Oregon
to voice its opinion, in no uncertain
terms. These attacks on the rights of
Oregonians, perpetrated by the Liber-
als on the West side, has to come to an
end. Pay attention people. Your rights
are on the line, yet once again. What
are you going to do?
Doug Dutton
Joseph, Oregon
WHERE TO WRITE
Washington, D.C.
The White House —
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20500;
Phone-comments: 202-
456-1111; Switchboard:
202-456-1414.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden,
D — 516 Hart Senate Office
Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-5244.
E-mail: wayne_kinney@
wyden.senate.gov Web site:
http://wyden.senate.gov Fax:
202-228-2717.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merk-
ley, D — 313 Hart Senate
Office Building, Washing-
ton D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-
224-3753. E-mail: senator@
merkley.senate.gov. Fax:
Wallowa County’s Newspaper Since 1884
VOLUME 134
tion in high school sports and activities
instills a sense of pride in school and
community, teaches lifelong lessons
like the value of teamwork and self-dis-
cipline and facilitates the physical and
emotional development of those who
participate. So, if the games go away
because there aren’t enough men and
women to officiate them, the loss will
be infinitely greater than just an “L” on
the scoreboard. It will be putting a dent
in your community’s future.
If you would like to be a part of the
solution to the shortage of high school
officials, you can sign up to become a
licensed official at highschoolofficials.
com. Otherwise, adult role models at
high school athletic events here in Ore-
gon are always welcome.
Karissa Niehoff is the executive
director of the National Federation of
State High School Associations. Peter
Weber is the executive director of the
Oregon School Activities Association.
Pending Bills
For information on bills
in Congress — Phone:
202-225-1772.
Salem
Gov. Kate Brown, D —
160 State Capitol, Salem
97310. Phone: 503-378-4582.
Fax: 503-378-8970. Web site:
www.governor.state.or.us/
governor.html.
Oregon Legislature —
State Capitol, Salem, 97310.
Phone: (503) 986-1180. Web
site: www. leg.state.or.us
(includes Oregon Consti-
tution and Oregon Revised
Statutes).
State Rep. Greg Bar-
reto, R-Cove (District 58) —
Room H-384, State Capitol,
900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR
97301. Phone: 503-986-1458.
E-mail: rep.gregbarreto@
state.or.us. Web site: http://
www.oregonlegislature.gov/
barreto
State Sen. Bill Hansell, R
(District 29) — Room S-423,
State Capitol, Salem 97301.
Phone: 503-986-1729. E-mail:
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us.
Web site: www.oregonlegis-
lature.gov/hansell.
Oregon Legislative
Information — For updates
on bills, services, capitol or
messages for legislators,
800-332-2313.
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