March 27, 2024 – More cases of measles have now been recorded within the United States this 12 months than in all of 2023.
Newly published Datathe CDC's year-to-date count is now at 64 measles cases, surpassing the whole of 58 cases in 2023.
Only seven measles cases were reported in the primary three months of last 12 months, meaning there may be a greater than 800% increase within the variety of measles cases within the US when comparing the primary three months of 2023 to 2024 numbering within the a whole lot this 12 months.
However, the rise isn’t yet so large that it could break today's records. In 2019, there have been greater than 1,000 cases of measles in 31 states. Nearly 90% of those cases were in a roundabout way linked to international travel but spread inside close-knit communities where few people were vaccinated against measles.
So far this 12 months, the disease has been confirmed in 17 states, including 11 cases in Florida And 33 cases in Chicago. The majority of cases in Chicago are in children ages 4 and younger, but nine people diagnosed with measles were between 18 and 49 years old, and one person was 50 years old or older. The variety of cases in Chicago is rising rapidly, and health officials are urging people at a hard-hit refugee shelter to get vaccinated, while warning people about possible infections at a suburban restaurant and a medical center, in response to CBS News reported.
Measles is attributable to a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air and by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus can remain within the air for as much as two hours after an infected person leaves a room, and as much as 90% of unvaccinated individuals who come into close contact with an infected person also turn into infected CDC says.
The illness typically causes a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, in addition to white patches within the mouth and a rash. But one in five unvaccinated people might be hospitalized in the event that they get measles. Serious complications include pneumonia and brain swelling, which may result in mental disability. The respiratory and neurological complications carry an increased risk of death.
According to the CDC, the complete two-dose measles vaccine series is 97% effective in stopping the disease, and only one dose is 93% effective.