- of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 113 measles cases have been recorded in the US so far this year
- The number of infections in the first three months of this year is 17 times higher than the average number of infections recorded during the same period in the previous three years.
- Cases of the highly contagious disease have been confirmed in 17 states.
Measles outbreaks in the United States and abroad have raised health experts’ concerns about a once-common, preventable childhood virus.
Measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, can cause serious complications. What are the best defenses, according to experts? Get vaccinated.
Here’s what you need to know about measles this year right now.
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How many cases of measles have occurred in the United States this year?
Nationally, the number of measles cases is already about twice as high as last year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 113 infections as of April 5. There have been seven outbreaks to date, and most of the U.S. cases (73%) are related to those flare-ups.
Still, the number is lower than in recent years, with 667 cases in 2014 and 1,274 cases in 2019.
Why is this a big deal?
The 2019 measles outbreak was the worst in nearly 30 years and threatened the United States’ status as a measles-free country by preventing the continued spread of the measles virus.
The CDC released a report Thursday on recent measles case trends, noting that the number of cases in the first three months of this year is 17 times the average number of cases in the first three months of the past three years.
In this March 27, 2019 file photo, a woman receives a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination at the Rockland County Health Department in Pomona, New York. Measles outbreaks in the United States and abroad have raised concerns among health experts about the once prevalent and preventable disease. Virus of childhood. The CDC released a report on recent measles case trends on Thursday, April 11, 2024, showing that the number of cases in the first three months of this year is 17 times the average number of cases in the first three months of the past three years. He pointed out that. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Although health authorities appear to be doing well in detecting and responding to outbreaks, “the rapid increase in the number of reported measles cases in the first quarter of 2024 points to new threats to eradication,” the report said. the authors stated.
Where does measles come from?
The disease remains endemic in many parts of the world, and measles enters the United States through unvaccinated travelers.
Thursday’s report said most recent imports involved unvaccinated Americans who were infected in the Middle East or Africa and brought measles back to the United States.
Where did measles outbreaks occur in the United States this year?
Health officials have confirmed measles cases in 17 states so far this year, including cases in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago.
More than half of this year’s infections have been caused by an outbreak in Chicago, where 61 people had contracted the virus as of Thursday, most among people who had lived in immigrant shelters.
How does measles spread?
Measles is highly contagious. The virus is spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, or through contaminated surfaces. It can remain in the air for up to two hours.
According to the CDC, up to 9 out of 10 susceptible people will contract the virus.
Measles was once prevalent among children. How bad was it?
According to the CDC, before a vaccine became available in 1963, there were approximately 3 million to 4 million infections per year, meaning that nearly every American child received a vaccine at some point in childhood. This means that it was infected with. Most have recovered.
But Susan Hassig, an infectious disease researcher at Tulane University, said measles may be more than just an unpleasant rash.
“I think people need to remember that this is a preventable disease,” Hassig said. “This is a potentially dangerous disease for children.”
In the 10 years before a vaccine became available, there were 48,000 hospitalizations per year. According to the CDC, about 1,000 people develop dangerous brain inflammation from measles each year, and 400 to 500 die.
Is the measles vaccine safe? What is the vaccination rate?
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective. This is a routine vaccine recommended for childhood, given in two doses.
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Studies show that preventing the spread of measles requires very high vaccination rates, with 95% of the population having to have immunity to the virus.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the national vaccination rate for kindergarteners dropped to 93% and remains there. Many areas of the country have much lower interest rates than that. Part of the decline is because a record number of children are receiving exemptions.
