It’s officially back-to-school season. But in addition to this year’s usual challenges—remembering to pack lunch and get kids to the bus stop on time—there’s a new one. Measles.
Cases in the US are already at a 35-year high and outbreaks are afoot across the US. Parents with kids whose compromised immune systems or who can’t be vaccinated are being put in a really challenging situation as a result: Should they send their kids to school or keep them home?
Both come with risks. Pulling kids out of the classroom can isolate them and lead to mental health issues. But they could catch a highly contagious, potentially life-threatening virus if they stay in school.
Emily Mullin spoke with parents facing these tough choices. That includes Victoria Schiano, whose 10-year-old son has mitochondrial disease and can’t be vaccinated.
“Measles is dangerous for anyone, but for him, this absolutely could be life or death,” she says.
The family lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which has the second-highest number of measles cases in the state. For now, she’s sending him to school where he wears a mask and has a plexiglass screen on his desk. But she’s also limiting his time with friends and doing the time-tested kid activity of karate lessons. It’s hard as a parent to balance his quality of life with his safety, says Schiano, who’s the national community engagement coordinator for Little Lobbyists, a nonprofit that advocates for children with complex medical needs and disabilities.
Emily also chatted with parents living in conservative areas about the awkward conversations they’re having with others’ about their vaccine status and fears their kids will be bullied over masking.
Also on my radar this week: smart toilets using AI to analyze your poop and provide you with updates on your gut health. Yes, they’re a thing. And yes, there are privacy concerns and dubious benefits for healthy folks. We have the low down on the latest wellness trend.
And I’d be remiss not to mention Molly Taft’s first data center column on the myth that just won’t die about China fueling Americans’ opposition to concrete boxes that use as much electricity as a small city being built in their backyards. Sign up for WIRED’s Daily newsletter to get Molly’s latest delivered to your inbox every Sunday, plus all our top stories every other day of the week.
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