A concerning rise in measles cases has been reported, with 78 new infections logged across the nation in just the past week. As of now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed at least 465 cases since the start of the year, indicating that the U.S. may be heading toward its worst outbreak of this serious disease in decades. The previous week saw a sharp increase from 387 cases.
Notably, over 80 percent of those infected are children under 19 years old, with most of them lacking the MMR vaccine. This marks the highest number of cases since 2014, which recorded 667 infections, and we are only in early April. The last significant spike occurred in 1994, when there were 963 confirmed cases.
Recent outbreaks have emerged in specific areas, particularly in Oakland County, Michigan. Other states including California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois are also facing clusters of cases. Additionally, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Arizona have reported infections this spring, while New York continues to manage a prolonged outbreak that led to a state of emergency declared in March. Earlier this year, Washington State battled a large outbreak, with Oregon, Hawaii, Colorado, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Texas also reporting cases this winter.
So far in 2019, there have been 17 outbreaks defined as clusters of three or more cases. Measles is highly contagious, with an infected person capable of transmitting the virus to 90 percent of unvaccinated individuals nearby. The disease can linger in the air for hours, making it alarmingly easy to contract. Most recent cases in the U.S. have originated from travelers who acquired the virus overseas.
Although measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread vaccination, increasing numbers of unvaccinated individuals are jeopardizing this status. Herd immunity, which protects entire communities, is achieved when approximately 95 percent of the population is vaccinated.
The current surge in measles cases can be attributed to communities with low vaccination rates, including some Orthodox Jewish and Somali immigrant populations. Moreover, the rising anti-vaccine movement, which erroneously claims vaccines can cause injuries, autism, or even death, has contributed to the problem. Many anti-vaxxers dismiss numerous studies proving vaccine safety, often relying on misinformation spread through social media.
To combat these outbreaks, the most effective measures include ensuring that everyone eligible in your family is vaccinated and familiarizing yourself with local immunization exemption policies. Engaging in conversations with friends who hold anti-vaccine beliefs can also be crucial to dispelling harmful myths surrounding vaccinations.
For more insights on this topic, you can check out our blog on privacy policies here. Additionally, for information on fertility, visit this site which is an authority on the subject, or refer to this excellent resource for pregnancy-related concerns here.
In summary, the U.S. is currently facing a significant increase in measles cases, primarily affecting children and linked to low vaccination rates. The resurgence highlights the importance of immunization for public health.