In a concerning development, the United States has seen a dramatic rise in measles cases, with the total reaching 465 as of early April 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This alarming figure marks a significant increase from 387 cases reported just a week prior, with 78 new infections identified nationwide in that short timeframe.
Children under 19 represent over 80 percent of the reported cases, most of whom have not received the MMR vaccine. This year’s numbers are already the highest since 2014, when there were 667 cases, and we’re only just entering the fourth month of the year. The last peak before that was in 1994 with 963 confirmed cases.
Recent Outbreaks and Affected Regions
Recent outbreaks have been concentrated in specific regions. For instance, Oakland County in Michigan is grappling with a severe outbreak, while clusters have also surfaced in California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Other states like Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Arizona have reported cases this spring, as New York continues to deal with a protracted outbreak that led to a state of emergency in March. Earlier this year, Washington State experienced a significant outbreak, with additional cases reported in Oregon, Hawaii, Colorado, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Texas during the winter.
To date, there have been 17 outbreaks in 2019, defined as clusters of three or more cases. Measles is an incredibly contagious virus, with an infected person able to transmit the disease to up to 90 percent of unvaccinated individuals nearby. It’s important to note that a person can still catch measles simply by being in the same room as someone who coughed hours earlier.
Causes of the Resurgence
Most measles cases in the U.S. have stemmed from travelers who contracted the virus abroad. Although measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to high vaccination rates, growing pockets of unvaccinated populations are threatening that status. Herd immunity, which requires approximately 95 percent of the population to be vaccinated, is crucial for protecting those who cannot be vaccinated.
The resurgence of measles is partly due to communities that opt out of vaccinations for various reasons, including certain Orthodox Jewish and Somali immigrant populations. Additionally, the rise of the anti-vaccine movement contributes to the issue, as misinformation about vaccine safety persists online, despite overwhelming evidence supporting their efficacy.
What You Can Do
To combat these outbreaks, it is vital to ensure that everyone in your family who can be vaccinated is. Additionally, familiarize yourself with your local government’s and schools’ policies regarding vaccination exemptions. If you know someone who is hesitant about vaccines, it may be worth discussing the serious risks associated with their beliefs, which are often not grounded in scientific fact and can endanger children.
Additional Resources
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Conclusion
In summary, the rise in measles cases in the U.S. highlights the importance of vaccination and herd immunity to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children. With the resurgence of anti-vaccine sentiment, it is crucial to engage in informed discussions about the safety and necessity of immunizations.
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