Reporting on Measles Vaccination Among Mennonites Community
In a recent edition, the Mennonite Post (MPOST) reported the first death from measles in the United States since 2015, which occurred in the rural town of Seminole, Texas. This small publication, produced by a dedicated team of Paraguayan Mennonites living in Canada, reaches over 10,000 readers globally, making it one of the only printed information sources allowed in some Mennonite homes, besides religious texts.
John Dueck, editor of the MPOST, visited Seminole as part of an MCC tour before news of the measles outbreak emerged. During his visit, he spoke with a school principal, a retirement home, and a museum owned by Tina Siemens, who was helping to translate measles information into Low German and post it around town.
In his article, Dueck emphasized the importance of vaccination, characterizing the MMR shot as safe and highly effective against measles infection and severe disease. He drew upon health guidance from the Canadian government, and noted that "you can get a measles vaccination to protect yourself and your family. If you are vaccinated, you cannot get or spread the virus as easily."
However, the MPOST did not address the spread of mumps and rash infections in Seminole, Texas specifically. Dueck received an angry call from a reader who questioned the World Health Organization's logo used in the article. Despite this, Dueck remained committed to providing accurate and timely information on the measles outbreak.
Seminole, located within the Permian Basin and tied to the oil and gas industry, is home to a diverse Mennonite community. Mennonite colonies are complex and influenced by global and regional trends such as climate change and tariff policies.
As the MPOST continues to report on the measles outbreak, editor John Dueck has not yet specified if he is done with the story. He urged readers to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their communities, stating, "if someone has measles, they should under no circumstances leave the house and come into contact with other people."
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