Measles Outbreaks Soar in US, Threatening Decades-Long Progress

Measles Outbreaks Soar in US, Threatening Decades-Long Progress

Worst Year in Over Three Decades: 1,288 Cases and Counting

The US is experiencing its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades, with 1,288 cases reported so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite widespread availability of a vaccine that's 97% effective at preventing measles after two doses, public health experts warn that transmission rates may be higher due to underreporting.

Key Points:

* The US is on track to surpass its previous record of 9,643 confirmed cases in 1991

* Fourteen states have active outbreaks, with four other states' outbreaks having ended

* Three people have died and dozens have been hospitalized across the country

* Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant concern, with childhood vaccination rates against measles falling after the COVID-19 pandemic

The CDC's count is 14 more than in 2019, when America almost lost its status as having eliminated the vaccine-preventable illness. However, experts warn that the year is far from over and the actual number of cases may be higher due to underreporting.

Dr. Jonathan Temte, a family physician who helped certify that measles had been eliminated from the US in 2000, expressed concern about the resurgence of outbreaks despite the availability of effective vaccines. "When we have tools that can be really helpful and see that they're discarded for no good reason, it's met with a little bit of melancholy on our part," he said.

Public health officials are also concerned about vaccine hesitancy, which has been linked to falling childhood vaccination rates against measles in nearly 80% of US counties. The CDC data showed that only 92.7% of kindergarteners had the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in the 2023-2024 school year, below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.

State and federal leaders have been criticized for keeping funding stagnant for local public health departments' vaccination programs. Dr. Temte noted that "the system needs more investment" to tackle the issue of vaccine hesitancy.

The measles outbreak is not only a US problem; North America has three other major outbreaks: 2,966 cases in Chihuahua state, Mexico, 2,223 cases in Ontario, Canada and 1,246 in Alberta, Canada. The Ontario, Chihuahua and Texas outbreaks stem from large Mennonite communities in the regions.

As public health officials continue to battle the outbreak, it's clear that more needs to be done to address vaccine hesitancy and invest in local vaccination programs. With the year still half over, it remains to be seen whether the US can reverse its fortunes and prevent measles cases from breaking records.