(NEXSTAR) — Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned clinicians to remain vigilant for measles cases after nearly 20 measles cases were confirmed in the United States from early December to mid-January. did.
Of the 23 confirmed cases, most were people who had not received the measles vaccine, and seven were imported directly by overseas travelers. Two outbreaks each infected five or more people, CDC informs read.
“The increase in measles imports seen in recent weeks reflects the increase in measles cases worldwide and the growing global threat posed by this disease,” the CDC continued.
States with confirmed measles cases since December include: Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. The situation is even worse in the UK, where there have been more than 300 confirmed cases since October, of which 216 have been confirmed, The Hill reports.
Both countries have eradicated measles through widespread vaccination, but the United States has eliminated measles. the year of 2000 and the United Kingdom in 2021 (the country lost that distinction in 2018). However, cases and outbreaks may still occur.
So, is there a risk of contracting measles even as an adult?
As we have seen with COVID-19, there are essentially two ways to be considered ‘protected’. Through a vaccine or through recovery from a viral infection. More specifically, the CDC says you are protected if at least one of the following applies: You have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, and one dose if it does not put you at high risk. have been exposed to measles, have already had measles, have laboratory-confirmed immunity, or were born before 1957.
Measles vaccine now available since the 1960s, and states primarily require children to take them before school. That means you’re likely already vaccinated against measles, as these vaccines are more than 90% effective at preventing the disease. If she got 2 doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine she would get 97% and 93%. CDC — You’re probably safe from that danger.
If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated, please contact your health care provider or find out if you have been vaccinated. Vaccination record.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles is well known for causing a rash, but there are many other symptoms to be aware of in case you or your child are exposed to measles.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air and on surfaces. The virus can survive in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.
according to CDC, first symptoms may appear within 1 to 2 weeks after infection. This includes a high fever that can reach 104°F or higher, a cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days after symptoms begin, you may notice small white spots appear inside your mouth. These are known as Koplik spots.
The rash appears three to five days after symptoms begin, according to the CDC. It usually looks like a flat red spot on the face and spreads to the neck, arms, legs, torso, and feet.
If you think you or your child has been infected with measles, you should contact your health care provider immediately.
“Measles can be dangerous to young children,” said Dr. Jim Adams, chief medical officer at Northwestern Medicine. He told Nexstar’s WGN Radio. last week. “This is devastating for everyone, but it’s truly preventable and highly contagious.”
Some children infected with measles suffer from encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, which can cause hearing loss and intellectual disability.
According to the CDC, 1 in 20 children infected with measles will develop pneumonia, making it the most common cause of death from the disease. On average, for every 1,000 children who contract measles, approximately 1 to 3 will die from respiratory or neurological complications.
Unvaccinated pregnant women who contract measles are also at risk of premature birth.
Is there a measles epidemic?
The CDC has recently warned of an increase in measles cases in the United States, but has not yet declared it an epidemic.agency To tell An outbreak is declared “when the number of reported cases in an area exceeds the expected number of cases.”
The last measles outbreak reported in the United States was 2019 At that time, 1,274 people were confirmed to be infected in 31 states, the highest number since 1992. According to the CDC, the majority of these infections were in unvaccinated people.
last year, 58 measles patients Cases have been confirmed in 19 states and the District of Columbia, down from 121 cases in six jurisdictions in 2022. As of January 25, nine cases have been reported in four states: Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Countries around the world want to reach 95% measles vaccination coverage by 2030, a goal that has been achieved in recent years and many blame on the coronavirus pandemic. According to the CDC, from 2020 to 2022, 61 million doses of measles-containing vaccines were delayed or missed due to coronavirus-related delays. Officials say that ultimately increases the risk of large-scale outbreaks in the United States and around the world.
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