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Civil rights icons remember the March on Washington 3:14 August 28, 2013

Civil rights icons remember the March on WashingtonMarian Wright-Edelman, Andrew Young and Julian Bond were all a part of the March on Washington half a century ago. Scott Pelley speaks with them about that day, and what is left to be done.

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21 measles cases linked to megachurch in Texas

DALLAS A Texas megachurch linked to at least 21 measles cases has been trying to contain the outbreak by hosting vaccination clinics, officials said Monday.

The outbreak started when a person who contracted measles overseas visited Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark, located about 20 miles north of Fort Worth, Texas. Officials with area health departments said those affected by the outbreak range in age from 4-months to 44-years-old. All of the school-aged children with measles were homeschooled, and majority of those who were infected had not been vaccinated.

In a recent sermon posted online, senior pastor Terri Pearsons encouraged those who haven't been vaccinated to do so, adding that the Old Testament is "full of precautionary measures."

"I would encourage you to do that. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. Go do it. Go do it. Go do it. And go in faith," said Pearsons, whose father is televangelist Kenneth Copeland. She added: "If you are somebody and you know that you know that you know that you've got this covered in your household by faith and it crosses your heart of faith then don't go do it."

"The main thing is stay in faith no matter what you do."

In Tarrant County, where the church is located, 11 of the 16 people with measles were not vaccinated while the others may have had at least one measles vaccination but there is official documentation to verify that. In nearby Denton County, none of their five cases had been vaccinated.

Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Christine Mann said that so far across the state there have been 27 cases of the measles this year, with five of those cases having no links to current outbreak. She said it is unclear whether a case recently diagnosed in Harris County, where Houston is located, is tied to the outbreak. There were no cases in the state last year and six the year before.

"If it finds a pocket of people who are unimmunized, and the majority of our cases are unimmunized so far, then if you are around a person with measles, you will get sick," said Russell Jones, chief epidemiologist for Tarrant County Public Health.

Measles is spread by coughing, sneezing and close personal contact with infected people; symptoms include a fever, cough, and a rash on the face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get two doses of the combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, called the MMR. The first does should be when they are 12 to 15 months old and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old.

Vaccination opt-out rates nationwide have been creeping up since the mid-2000s, spurred in part by the belief the battery of vaccinations routinely given to infants could lead to autism despite scientific evidence to the contrary and the debunking of one of the most publicized studies that first fueled vaccine fears years ago.

Pearsons' father is a pioneer of the prosperity gospel, which holds that believers are destined to flourish spiritually, physically and financially — and share the wealth with others. He has built a vast ministry with a worldwide reach. Eagle Mountain International Church is located on the grounds as the Kenneth Copeland Ministries.

Robert Hayes, risk manager with Kenneth Copeland Ministries, said they have held several vaccination clinics since the outbreak. He said that the church has never advised against adults or children getting immunized for measles or seeking medical care.

A statement from the organization said their position regarding any medical condition is to "first seek the wisdom of God, His Word, and appropriate medical attention from a professional that you know and trust."

Hayes did not know why some people had not immunized their children. "Some had for whatever reason chosen not to. Some depending on the age of their child were advised by their physician to wait until the child was a certain number of years old. I don't get a sense for why after that they did not," he said.

He said if people are still choosing to not be immunized and they've been exposed to the measles they are being asked to isolate themselves until it is clear they are not infected.

The incubation period for measles is about two weeks from exposure to fever. People are contagious from four days before getting the rash to four days before breaking out in a measles rash.

View the original article here

21 measles cases linked to megachurch in Texas

DALLAS A Texas megachurch linked to at least 21 measles cases has been trying to contain the outbreak by hosting vaccination clinics, officials said Monday.

The outbreak started when a person who contracted measles overseas visited Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark, located about 20 miles north of Fort Worth, Texas. Officials with area health departments said those affected by the outbreak range in age from 4-months to 44-years-old. All of the school-aged children with measles were homeschooled, and majority of those who were infected had not been vaccinated.

In a recent sermon posted online, senior pastor Terri Pearsons encouraged those who haven't been vaccinated to do so, adding that the Old Testament is "full of precautionary measures."

"I would encourage you to do that. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. Go do it. Go do it. Go do it. And go in faith," said Pearsons, whose father is televangelist Kenneth Copeland. She added: "If you are somebody and you know that you know that you know that you've got this covered in your household by faith and it crosses your heart of faith then don't go do it."

"The main thing is stay in faith no matter what you do."

In Tarrant County, where the church is located, 11 of the 16 people with measles were not vaccinated while the others may have had at least one measles vaccination but there is official documentation to verify that. In nearby Denton County, none of their five cases had been vaccinated.

Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Christine Mann said that so far across the state there have been 27 cases of the measles this year, with five of those cases having no links to current outbreak. She said it is unclear whether a case recently diagnosed in Harris County, where Houston is located, is tied to the outbreak. There were no cases in the state last year and six the year before.

"If it finds a pocket of people who are unimmunized, and the majority of our cases are unimmunized so far, then if you are around a person with measles, you will get sick," said Russell Jones, chief epidemiologist for Tarrant County Public Health.

Measles is spread by coughing, sneezing and close personal contact with infected people; symptoms include a fever, cough, and a rash on the face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get two doses of the combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, called the MMR. The first does should be when they are 12 to 15 months old and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old.

Vaccination opt-out rates nationwide have been creeping up since the mid-2000s, spurred in part by the belief the battery of vaccinations routinely given to infants could lead to autism despite scientific evidence to the contrary and the debunking of one of the most publicized studies that first fueled vaccine fears years ago.

Pearsons' father is a pioneer of the prosperity gospel, which holds that believers are destined to flourish spiritually, physically and financially — and share the wealth with others. He has built a vast ministry with a worldwide reach. Eagle Mountain International Church is located on the grounds as the Kenneth Copeland Ministries.

Robert Hayes, risk manager with Kenneth Copeland Ministries, said they have held several vaccination clinics since the outbreak. He said that the church has never advised against adults or children getting immunized for measles or seeking medical care.

A statement from the organization said their position regarding any medical condition is to "first seek the wisdom of God, His Word, and appropriate medical attention from a professional that you know and trust."

Hayes did not know why some people had not immunized their children. "Some had for whatever reason chosen not to. Some depending on the age of their child were advised by their physician to wait until the child was a certain number of years old. I don't get a sense for why after that they did not," he said.

He said if people are still choosing to not be immunized and they've been exposed to the measles they are being asked to isolate themselves until it is clear they are not infected.

The incubation period for measles is about two weeks from exposure to fever. People are contagious from four days before getting the rash to four days before breaking out in a measles rash.

View the original article here

Diabetes 'linked to disability risk'

24 July 2013 Last updated at 06:46 GMT By Helen Briggs BBC News Untreated diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease and stroke Adults with diabetes have a higher risk of physical disability, research shows.

Older people with diabetes are 50% to 80% more likely to develop a physical disability than those without, according to a review of 26 studies.

No distinction was made between type-1 and type-2 diabetes, but most of the data involved people over the age of 65, who are more likely to have type-2.

Ensuring all people with diabetes have access to the right care is hugely important, said a diabetes charity.

The study, published in the journal the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, reviewed data from thousands of patients around the world.

Disability was defined as impaired mobility and the inability to perform normal activities such as bathing, eating, shopping or using transport.

The Australian researchers say the reasons behind the link are unclear, but high blood sugar levels may lead to muscle damage over time.

"The complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, can all result in disability," said study leader Dr Anna Peeters and Dr Evelyn Wong, of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.

"As the world's population ages, and diabetes becomes more common, it seems clear that we will see an increased need for disability-related health resources, which health systems around the world need to be prepared for."

Right care

Previous studies have given a confusing picture of the scale of the link between diabetes and disability, with estimates ranging from zero risk to double.

Dr Edward Gregg, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, US, said the new analysis was the first to quantify the extent of disability diabetes causes.

"We are going to need to think about preventing disability as one of our priorities in managing and dealing with diabetes," he said.

The charity Diabetes UK said the research showed yet again that diabetes complications could result in serious life-limiting disability.

Head of research, Dr Matthew Hobbs, said: "It emphasises why preventing type-2 diabetes and ensuring that all people with diabetes have access to the right care is so hugely important. "

The link may be explained by the fact that complications caused by consistently high blood glucose levels, such as amputation, blindness, heart disease and stroke were, themselves, major causes of disability, he said.

Another possible explanation is that risk factors for type-2 diabetes, such as being overweight, also increase the likelihood of disability.

"Eating a healthy, balanced diet and being more physically active in your daily life can help to reduce your risk of developing type-2 diabetes," said Dr Hobbs.

View the original article here