Increasingly more states have reported measles cases amid a serious outbreak, mainly caused by huge vaccine misinformation and ongoing hesitancy. Starting on May 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 935 cases of measles in 29 states.
These states are Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Measles cases have also appeared in New York City.
If you count them carefully, you will realize we are talking about 285 measles cases reported in 2024. Out of all the cases reported this year, 638 are in young adults and children under 20. CDC officials mainly attributed 93% of cases to 12 different outbreaks in America.
Up until this point, 121 cases needed hospitalization. Current CDC estimates prove that 96% of all cases are mainly in unvaccinated people or those with an unknown vaccination status. West Texas is also seen as the center of the measles outbreak, with no less than 683 reported cases as of May 2. New Mexico registered the second-highest number, with 67 cases.
Two unvaccinated kids tragically died from measles in West Texas, while the death of an unvaccinated person was also confirmed in Lea County, NM. Due to growing concern over the U.S. outbreak, measles is also spreading outside the United States.
A more recent analysis conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF says there were over 127,000 measles cases in Europe last year. That’s basically double the number registered in 2023 in the region, which also includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. It’s also the highest number of cases ever recorded since 1997.
Over half of European cases need hospitalization, and 38 deaths were reported in the region. The report also noted that almost 360,000 measles cases were registered all over the world last year. The measles spread rapidly, prompting the CDC to issue an advisory for United States residents and healthcare professionals.
The CDC advises all medical professionals to emphasize the importance and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to all parents and unvaccinated adults.
They also added that most physicians should definitely consider measles a diagnosis in anyone who suffers from a temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit and a rash or cough, especially after international or domestic travel in an area with a measles outbreak. They also advise travelers to make sure they are fully vaccinated before heading to their destinations.
They said that travelers should definitely monitor themselves for 3 weeks after returning for any symptoms of measles. “Measles is a highly contagious disease that can rapidly turn deadly,” as Anne Liu, MD, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics, immunology, and allergy at Stanford University, explained. “People who are unvaccinated, as well as those who are immunocompromised, should be very concerned about the growing footprint of this outbreak.”
Vaccinations can prevent the spread of measles
Experts believe the main reason why measles is spreading so rapidly is quite simple: it’s by far one of the most contagious diseases on the planet. As Danelle Fisher, MD, and pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, explained, “it’s incredibly contagious.
In fact, it’s the most contagious disease we have ever seen.” She noted that people with measles can be contagious even 4 days before symptoms emerge, and 7 to 10 days afterward. Willian Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, noted that vaccines are the only efficient protection against measles.
“Vaccines are the only prevention against measles. There are no other ways. Even if it has been in the news recently, vitamin A can’t prevent it.” Schaffner explained. People who already have the disease and are fully vaccinated don’t have too much to worry about.
This is also the only way not to get sick and not spread it. On the other hand, those who are unvaccinated or whose immunity has waned over the years are definitely at a higher risk. Fisher also said that people in such categories should view measles the same way the world approached Covid-19 back in 2020, way before vaccines were available.
Moreover, Fisher stated that if there weren’t a vaccine, the ongoing outbreak would definitely spread across the globe in a matter of weeks. “Vaccinations are currently the only reason this is not spreading more.” Fisher also urged parents to vaccinate their children.
She also advised that adults who are unvaccinated or simply unsure about their vaccination status get immunized. Moreover, it’s worth knowing that vaccines not only protect an individual, but also the children and adults who cannot get vaccinated due to ongoing medical treatments and a weak immune system.
What else is there to do to prevent measles?
Experts believe there are a few precautions you can take besides vaccines to lower your risk of contracting measles. She also cautioned that unvaccinated people should not take planes, trains, or any other form of public transportation.
This particular group should only consider essential travel. She also added that you can make adjustments at your job to lower the sheer number of people you come into contact with. For instance, people who work or visit schools and healthcare facilities should try taking extra precautions. Moreover, Fisher advised everyone to be cautious around anyone who has a cough or other symptoms of measles.
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What you should know about measles
Measles caused over 3 million illnesses on an annual basis in the United States before the vaccine became fully available in the mid-1950s. These cases often resulted in 48,000 hospitalizations and 500 annual deaths. The CDC advises that children get two doses of the MMR vaccine.
The first dose is generally given between 12 months and 15 months of age. The second dose, however, is generally administered between 4 and 6 years. The virus can be transmitted through the air or even through direct contact with a surface with droplets that have the virus.
Symptoms generally appear within 14 days, and they include widespread skin rash, high fever, cough, and sore throat. Around 30% of measles cases can lead to some form of complication, and the most common being ear infections and diarrhea. Other serious complications are rare, but they also include pneumonia, encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
There are plenty of long-term consequences, which are worth mentioning. In fact, one of the lesser-known features is that it can easily wipe out part of someone’s immune memory from prior infections, which leaves them vulnerable to infections they efficiently battled before.
What’s worse is that, at the end of the day, these are all preventable illnesses. Many people are being hospitalized for measles due to the severity of the illness, not for quarantine purposes. The public should try to be more aware of the ongoing measles situation.
The best thing to do is to stay informed and make sure that you and your loved ones are efficiently vaccinated against measles. If you have acquaintances who aren’t vaccinated, urge them to speak with their doctor about their concerns. Reach out, try to make them comfortable with the idea of getting vaccinated. That’s the only way.
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