1,277 Cases Reported This Year
At Least 3 Deaths and 155 Hospitalizations
In the United States, which declared the eradication of measles 25 years ago, the number of confirmed measles cases has surged, reaching the highest level in 33 years.
According to the BBC on July 7 (local time), the number of confirmed measles cases in the United States is nearing 1,300, marking the highest number of infections reported in 33 years.
Data released by Johns Hopkins University show that measles, a highly contagious disease that can be prevented by vaccination, is once again spreading in the United States. So far, confirmed cases have been reported in 38 states and Washington, D.C., with at least 3 deaths and 155 hospitalizations.
Of all patients, 92% were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status could not be confirmed. The hardest-hit region is Texas. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 700 confirmed cases have occurred in this area. In addition, dozens of infections have been reported in Kansas and New Mexico.
U.S. health authorities stated that measles is mainly spreading in communities with low vaccination rates, such as the Mennonite community in Texas. The current outbreak is concentrated in areas with low vaccination uptake, which observers say is not unrelated to the rise of vaccine skepticism that has been spreading in recent years both in the United States and globally.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, previously made unfounded claims about childhood vaccines and downplayed the seriousness of the measles outbreak. However, he recently changed his stance, stating on his social media that "the most effective way to prevent measles is to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine."
According to the CDC, measles infections in the United States peaked at around 28,000 cases in 1990, but were virtually eradicated by around 2000 thanks to increased vaccination rates and rapid response. However, cases began to rise again around 2014 and 2019, with 1,274 cases reported in 2019. The current number has now surpassed that, reaching 1,277 cases so far.
The BBC reported, "Public health experts warn that if the spread of measles continues at the current rate for more than 12 months, the United States could lose its status as a 'measles-eliminated country.'"
However, vaccination rates are increasing again. According to the Texas Department of Health, at least 173,000 doses of the measles vaccine were administered between January 1 and March 16 of this year. This is 158,000 more than during the same period last year.
The measles vaccine (MMR) is known to prevent not only measles, but also mumps and rubella, and is reported to be 97% effective.
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