According to recent figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States is experiencing a significant number of measles cases.
As of May 15, 31 states have reported a combined total of 1,024 cases, marking one of the most serious outbreaks in recent years. The CDC indicates that about 96% of those with confirmed cases were either unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status.
The statistics reveal that 13% of those infected have been hospitalized, and sadly, there have been three confirmed deaths linked to the disease this year.
Texas has been in the spotlight lately due to its outbreak, with 718 reported infections as of May 13, making it the state with the highest number of cases in the nation.
The states affected include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Measles had been declared eliminated in the U.S. over 25 years ago. However, if this current outbreak persists beyond a year, that status could be jeopardized.
