Understanding Morbilli and Vaccination

Vaccination has a proven track record of saving lives, and the measles virus, scientifically referred to as morbilli, is a prime example of this.

Yesterday's New York Times Spelling Bee featured the letters G, I, L, M, O, R, and B, prompting participants to form words that include B.

According to Merriam-Webster...

It's amusing to think that if the New York Times declares a word invalid, it may not be recognized, even if it pertains to something as significant as the measles virus.

For more intriguing insights, delve into the Spelling Bee Master. What was your favorite word from today’s challenge?

Reflecting on the Spelling Bee

I can freely discuss yesterday’s Spelling Bee since it occurred recently. However, if you're still working on it, feel free to skip ahead to my commentary on today’s word puzzle.

The Spelling Bee on August 6, 2021, was particularly unusual, as only six words were needed to reach the Genius level. The game operates on a scoring system that ranges from Beginner (0 points) to Queen Bee, which encompasses all possible points—details of which remain undisclosed until the game concludes. In yesterday's game, the maximum word count was 23, with a total of 59 points. The Genius level typically requires around 70% of the maximum score, which in this instance was 41 points.

An interesting aspect of the game is the pangram, a word that utilizes all seven letters. In every game, there is at least one pangram, and yesterday's was "imbroglio," which earned 16 points: one point for each letter (nine total) plus seven bonus points for being the pangram.

When I discovered the one and only pangram, I aimed to ascend six levels from Beginner to Nice with just one word—a rarity in the Spelling Bee.

Next, I challenged myself to determine the fewest words needed to achieve Genius status. Typically, it requires at least 12 to 15 words, but it can go as high as 25 or even 30, depending on the complexity of the words.

The point system can be uneven; four-letter words only yield one point, while five-letter words earn one point per letter. For instance, the word "boom" scores 4 points, but "broom" scores 5.

To reach Genius with the fewest words, I aimed to avoid four-letter words, which proved to be a rewarding challenge.

Ultimately, I achieved Genius status with just six words, all containing at least five letters.

After this, my goal was to find the remaining words to attain Queen Bee status, a rare achievement for me.

A Closer Look at Morbilli

The term morbilli, referring to the measles virus, is derived from Morbillivirus, related to the Latin word "morbus," meaning "disease." Measles, in its etymology, is linked to Middle English and Old High German terms that denote spots characteristic of the disease.

The image above illustrates the virus, courtesy of an electron microscope from the CDC.

Measles is extremely contagious, transmitted through coughing and sneezing during close personal contact or via direct contact with respiratory secretions. It remains infectious for up to two hours in the air or on surfaces, making it the most contagious virus known. If one individual contracts measles, approximately 90% of non-immune individuals nearby will also become infected.

Humans are the sole natural hosts for the virus, which is believed to have evolved from the now-eradicated rinderpest virus affecting cattle.

The World Health Organization explains that the initial symptom of measles is typically a high fever, appearing about 10 to 12 days after exposure, lasting around 4 to 7 days. This is followed by a runny nose, cough, and other symptoms. A rash typically emerges after several days, starting on the face and neck and spreading to the rest of the body.

Unfortunately, treatment options are limited, as no specific antiviral medication exists to eliminate the virus. Care focuses on managing symptoms and treating any resultant bacterial infections.

Statistically, measles results in about 1 to 2 fatalities per 1,000 infected individuals, which, while lower than the COVID-19 fatality rate, still translates to significant loss among children.

The Role of Vaccination

Historically, vaccination efforts against polio in the 1950s and early 1960s led to the unintended consequence of a resurgence in measles cases. John Franklin Enders developed a measles vaccine, which underwent trials and was licensed in the U.S. in 1963. An improved version was later created and combined with vaccines for mumps and rubella, leading to the highly effective MMR vaccine.

Global vaccination campaigns have drastically reduced measles cases and deaths over the decades, with billions of children vaccinated. The CDC has documented this decline in cases from 1985 to 2017.

However, a concerning trend emerged around the time the previous chart concluded, culminating in 2019, which saw the highest number of measles cases and deaths in 23 years, primarily among unvaccinated individuals.

The isolation caused by COVID-19 temporarily decreased measles cases, but this was not due to an increase in vaccination uptake. In 2019, the CDC reported over 1,200 measles cases in the U.S., a stark contrast to just 13 in 2020 and only 1 as of July 9, 2021.

In conclusion, it is vital to get vaccinated to protect against measles and other preventable diseases!

Despite the facts discussed, the Spelling Bee editors still deemed "morbilli" as a non-word.

For further exploration of another intriguing term, check out my previous entry on "dord."

The first video: Curators Reflect: Degas's “Adelchi Morbilli” - This insightful video features curators discussing the significance of Degas's work and its historical context.

The second video: How to Pronounce Morbilli - In this informative video, learn the correct pronunciation of morbilli, enhancing your understanding of this term in medical discussions.

What's a dord, you ask? Here's the answer:

'Dord': A Ghost Word

One of the questions people often pose to lexicographers is whether it's possible to sneak something into the dictionary.

www.merriam-webster.com