The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an alert to healthcare providers about a surge in measles cases in the United States. As of this week, the number of confirmed measles cases has reached 58, equaling the total count for the entire year of 2023. The CDC highlighted that 93% of these cases are associated with international travel, predominantly affecting children over one year old who have not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The CDC advises healthcare professionals to ensure that children are up to date with their MMR vaccinations. So far, seventeen states have reported measles cases this year, including significant occurrences in New York City and outbreaks in Florida and Philadelphia.
The advisory also emphasizes vaccination for all ages before international travel, noting ongoing measles outbreaks in countries like Austria and the United Kingdom. Measles is a highly contagious disease, with a 90% infection rate among unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus.
The disease can be deadly; in 2021, an estimated 128,000 deaths globally were attributed to measles, mostly among children. The World Health Organization credits vaccinations for preventing approximately 56 million deaths worldwide from 2000 to 2021.
Though measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, there has been a notable resurgence, with 2019 witnessing a 27-year record high of 1,274 cases. These recent outbreaks have primarily been linked to international travel and subsequent transmission to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals within the U.S. The CDC’s alert serves as a reminder of the continuing threat of measles and the importance of vaccination.
