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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Rory McIlroy Gives Nod to Potential Ryder Cup Underdog
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. It's no secret that Rory McIlroy is a powerful voice on the European side of the Ryder Cup. For this reason, his every word on the matter resonates throughout the golf world, and if it bears a player's name, even more so. That's exactly what happened after the second round of the BMW Championship, with several potential European Ryder Cup team members controlling the top of the leaderboard. McIlroy expressed his satisfaction with players like Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, and Ludvig Aberg, but took the opportunity to mention one who may not be in many people's plans. "It's good to see Bob (MacIntyre), Ludvig (Aberg), Viktor Hovland), Tommy (Fleetwood), even Harry Hall, that maybe got a chance to play in the team. Yeah, it bodes well for a few weeks' time." Regarding Hall, he added: "I played with Harry in his first start as a pro at the Dunhill Links a few years ago. I know him a little bit. Really nice player, great rhythm to his golf swing, and he's sort of done it a different way. He went over to UNLV (University of Nevada-Las Vegas) and did it that way. But he's become a very consistent player, so we'll see what happens." Rory McIlory of Northern Ireland plays his tee shot on the 18th hole watched by his playing partner Harry Hall of England on the 18th hole during the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links... Rory McIlory of Northern Ireland plays his tee shot on the 18th hole watched by his playing partner Harry Hall of England on the 18th hole during the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews on September 29, 2019 in St Andrews, United Kingdom. MoreHall started the third round of the BMW Championship tied for eighth with a score of 5-under. The Englishman is currently ranked 19th in the European Ryder Cup Team rankings, so a strong result at Caves Valley would put him squarely in the conversation for Luke Donald's free picks. Hall has two more chances to continue earning points and move even closer to a spot on the team. His performance at the BMW Championship is poised to take him to the PGA Tour's Tour Championship for the first time in his career. Two weeks later, he will play the DP World Tour's British Masters, which closes the eligibility period for the European team. After this iconic tournament hosted by Nick Faldo at The Belfry, the six direct qualifiers will be determined. Shortly following, Donald is expected to announce his six free picks. Hall owes his current status as a Ryder Cup contender to his strong season on the PGA Tour. In 23 tournaments, he has only missed three cuts, with 13 top-25 finishes and four top-10s. His best result of the year so far has been a T6 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Hall has never played in the Ryder Cup, although he has experience in team events, having played in the Arnold Palmer Cup and the Walker Cup during his amateur career. He has played professionally since 2019 and on the PGA Tour since 2023, where his best result is one win. More Golf: Scottie Scheffler shows his edge amid 'ridiculous' Ryder Cup questions
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does the Measles Vaccine Wane in Immunity?
Is it just us, or is anyone feeling déjà vu lately? Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the US has trouble containing another virus, largely due to misinformation. While it's not another COVID strain, it's a little disorienting to fight off a virus the US beat before: Measles. Recent numbers report 301 cases across 15 states and two confirmed deaths. A measles infection is one of the world's most contagious diseases, but unlike COVID, scientists are not scrambling to create a vaccine. We already have one—and it works. Measles vaccination is estimated to have saved 60 million lives between 2000 and 2023. And if you break down who has been infected so far, 95% have been in the unvaccinated population. That said, you would expect the government's leading medical experts to urge people to vaccinate. The official measles response, though, has been confusing. , the Secretary of Human and Health Services, recommended that people get vaccinated, but he also made conflicting and misleading statements about the measles vaccine. Many infectious disease experts and doctors have made it clear they disagree with RFK's vaccine skepticism. The measles vaccine does not wane in immunity. It's quite the opposite. Here are the facts. Related: Vaccination remains the safest and most effective method for preventing measles infection. One dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is 93% effective against measles, and two doses are 97% effective. The current two-dose MMR vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine. It's a weakened or altered form of the virus that cannot cause infection. Exposure to the weakened virus allows the body's immune system to recognize and train an immune response against it. , a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, says that, unlike COVID, the measles virus is not expected to dramatically mutate into a deadlier virus that renders the current vaccine obsolete. , a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, says only a small percentage of vaccinated people experience breakthrough infections. Of the current cases in the US, 3% of people with one dose of the MMR vaccine have gotten sick with measles, while only 2% of people vaccinated with two doses have been infected. Despite the infection, Handel emphasizes that measles symptoms are less severe compared to unvaccinated people. Related: In a Fox News interview earlier this month, RFK downplayed the vaccine's effectiveness. He even theorized that waning immunity from the vaccines was partly to blame for the measles outbreak. 'When you and I were kids, everybody got measles, and measles gave you … lifetime protection against measles infection. The vaccine doesn't do that. The vaccine is effective for some people for life, but for many people, it wanes,' Kennedy told Hannity, according to CNN. He even claimed that the measles vaccine causes deaths every year, a claim that is absolutely, demonstrably false. Now keep in mind that RFK has long been skeptical of vaccines. He's wrongly claimed a link between vaccines and increased autism rates (the two studies he used to back up his claim are widely discredited). With the claim of waning immunity from the measles vaccine, RFK may be referring to the first measles vaccine—one that has been discontinued for decades. The original measles vaccine used from 1963 to 1967 was one dose and an inactivated vaccine. This uses a killed version of the virus, but it proved not to be as protective as a live attenuated vaccine. This vaccine was quickly replaced with the two-dose measles vaccine used today, which provides high protection against the virus. Both Handel and DiJohn agree that the population that received this earlier measles vaccine or is unsure of their vaccination status should get a booster shot. The current two-dose measles vaccine provides lifetime immunity and is the best way to protect yourself against measles, says DiJohn. People who have received the measles vaccine as children continue to show high antibody levels. If you're nervous about waning immunity, Handel says you can ask your doctor for a blood test to check for antibodies that protect against measles. Related: Measles is a respiratory virus transmitted through the air. It infects immune cells in the respiratory tract and spreads to other tissues and organs via the lymphatic system. Measles presents symptoms similar to a cold, such as a runny nose, cough, and watery eyes. One of the telltale signs of measles is a rash that spreads throughout the body and small white spots inside the mouth known as Koplik spots. Measles is highly contagious, and people can get sick from breathing the same air as an infected person. 'One case of measles is estimated to cause about 15 to 20 additional cases,' says Handel. 'In the old days before vaccines, if a kid in a classroom got measles virtually, so did every other kid in the class,' explains DiJohn.'It has a tremendous potential for causing epidemic spread.' The neurological and respiratory complications of measles make it dangerous to humans, and there is a risk of death. A small percentage of people develop pneumonia with measles or secondary bacterial pneumonia afterward. There is also a risk of brain swelling called encephalitis, which can lead to blindness and deafness. A decade after a measles infection, people have reported issues with their immune systems. Handel said the weakened immune system can cause people to lose immunity to infections they were once protected against. In rare situations, the immunosuppression caused by the measles virus can induce a fatal neurological disorder called SSPE. Bottom line: measles vaccines are effective and have already prevented millions of infections. In DiJohn's words, it's better to be vaccinated than to face a potentially life-threatening disease. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry? Up Next"Measles Cases and Outbreaks." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2023." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "Measles Vaccination." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. David DiJohn, MD, professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Andrew Handel, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Medicine "Kennedy downplays immunity from vaccination as measles outbreak grows." CNN. "RFK Jr. Falsely Claims Measles Vax Causes Deaths 'Every Year.'" MedPage Today. "Vaccines and Autism." Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Vaccine Types." U.S. Department of Human and Health Services. "Measles." World Health Organization. "Measles Symptoms and Complications." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis." National Library of Medicine.
