Measles ‘Eliminated’ Status In The U.S. ‘At Risk’ After Surge Of Cases, CDC Says

A surge in measles cases, predominantly caused by vaccine hesitancy, poses a renewed threat to the health officials’ claim in 2000 that the highly contagious airborne disease had been eliminated from the country.

In a report released on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the elimination status of measles in the U.S. continues to be at risk due to global increases in measles incidence and a decline in vaccination coverage worldwide, nationally and locally.

The CDC has recorded over 120 measles cases in the country this year, more than double the number reported last year. 

The chances of widespread transmission of measles in the U.S. remain low due to the country’s high population immunity, but the increased number of cases poses a grave threat to infants and under-vaccinated communities. This upswing comes five years after the country experienced the highest measles cases in over two decades. In 2019, the CDC documented over 1,200 cases in 31 states, primarily in under-vaccinated communities in Florida and New York.

Measles has resurgence in the United States and globally. According to the World Health Organization, there were approximately nine million cases in 2022, an 18% increase from the previous year. Deaths rose by 43% in 2022 compared to the prior year.

Nearly half of the cases reported this year affected children under 5, with around a third occurring in adults aged 20. While cases are typically linked to international travel, vaccine skepticism and low vaccination rates within communities have contributed significantly to the recent spike.

CDC data reveals that over 80% of cases this year involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Approximately 13% of cases involved individuals who had only received one dose of the measles vaccine despite public health officials recommending two doses.

As of April 4, 17 states have reported cases, with Illinois and Florida being the most affected. Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, white spots inside the mouth and a rash that spreads across the body. While most cases are mild, measles can lead to severe complications such as brain swelling, pneumonia and even death.

The danger lies in the highly contagious nature of measles. If an infected person coughs in a room, up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals could become infected. Federal health officials strongly recommend that all children receive two doses of the measles vaccine: the first between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has been criticized for the measles outbreak in his state after his vaccine-skeptic surgeon general told unvaccinated kids that they could return to schools where there had been outbreaks.