Measles Cases in the US Reach Record High

Measles cases in the United States have surged to an all-time high since the disease was eliminated in 2000, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI). The current annual tally of 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia surpasses the previous record of 1,274 cases recorded in 2019. This surge in cases coincides with a decline in childhood vaccination rates and a rise in anti-vaccine sentiment.

Key Takeaways:

• The US has recorded 1,277 confirmed measles cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia, the highest annual tally since 1992.
• This figure has already surpassed the 1,274 cases recorded during the peak year of 2019, marking a critical public health milestone.
• Experts estimate that this year's measles cases are likely severely undercounted, with many cases going unreported.
• At least 155 hospitalizations and three confirmed deaths from measles have been reported, including two otherwise healthy but unvaccinated children in Texas.
• Confirmed measles cases have been reported by 39 states and jurisdictions, with Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas showing the highest concentrations.
• Active outbreaks are occurring in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah.
• The symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, which appear seven to 14 days after virus contact.
• Two doses of MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, according to the CDC.
• Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making handwashing, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and covering one's mouth and nose crucial in preventing its spread.
• Travelers, especially those traveling internationally, are advised to ensure they are fully vaccinated at least two weeks before departure.

Statistics:

• 1,277 confirmed measles cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia.
• 1,274 cases recorded in 2019, the previous record.
• At least 155 hospitalizations and three confirmed deaths from measles this year.
• 39 states and jurisdictions have reported confirmed measles cases.
• Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas have the highest concentrations of confirmed measles cases.
• 155 reported outbreaks in 12 states.

Sources:

• Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI)
• The Hill
• US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)