Measles Outbreak in the Pacific Northwest

The governor of Washington state has declared a state of emergency because of a recent measles outbreak. The majority of those sick from measles are children who were not vaccinated. Washington state has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Measles is very contagious, and people who are not vaccinated are at high risk of catching the disease when exposed to it. Listen to hear more about the role vaccinations play in public health and what Washington is doing to contain this dangerous measles outbreak.

Tweet Share on Facebook

Want to Listen?

TEACHERS: Access our daily current events podcasts for free!

To access our podcast library for ELA, Social Studies, and Science including all of our Premium features, choose the free Premium Trial (no credit card required!) option when you join.

Already a Member? Login Now

Story Length: 4:30

Listen to the Story:

Listening Comprehension Questions

What was one of Malala Yousafzai’s first experiences with the dangers of religious extremism?
After miraculously surviving her attack, what has Malala focused her work on?
What is the message that Malala is trying to send to those in power?
What does Malala want to do in the future?
What are the goals of Malala’s mission to support girls?

Discussion Themes

What is your opinion on Malala’s message about the power of education?
Why do you think that ISIS might want to silence people like Malala?

Socrative users can import these questions using the following code: SOC-1234

Related Current Events

February 6, 2015

3:55

Measles Outbreak

Measles was a common and dangerous disease in the U.S. until measles vaccination became widespread in the 1980s. But recently an outbreak of measles in the U.S. has focused new attention on the disease. Measles is the most contagious infectious disease in the world, yet people remain unvaccinated. The disease is now rare in developed nations but continues to thrive in human hosts across the globe. Listen to learn more about measles transmission and prevention.

August 14, 2014

7131

The Road Block to Eradicating Polio is Rumors

Polio is on the verge of eradication in all parts of the world, except for Pakistan. The Taliban is restricting people trained to give vaccinations who are going door-to-door. They are intimidated and sometimes killed for their efforts. The Taliban is banning the immunizations because they suspect the program could be a cover for CIA spying. Listen to this radio story to learn about the barriers to disease eradication.

May 20, 2014

5:19

Should we keep or kill the last vile of smallpox

Debate: Should We Keep or Kill the Last Vials of Smallpox?

The disease smallpox was successfully eliminated in 1977, but two research facilities still hold the last samples of the smallpox virus. The World Health Organization is going to vote soon on the future of the smallpox samples. Should we keep the virus to study it or completely destroy it because it could get into the wrong hands? Listen to this story and discuss.

May 2, 2014

6:00

Choosing Vaccinations

A rising number of parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children due to a variety of reasons. Doctors are alarmed at this rise of unvaccinated children, which may be connected to a series of measles cases.