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CDC
Measles is a vaccine-preventable, extremely contagious illness that may result in severe well being penalties for unvaccinated kids.
CNN
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No less than 41 measles cases have been reported in 16 states for the reason that begin of the yr, in accordance with the newest tally by the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
That quantity is up from final week, when the CDC reported 35 circumstances in 15 states. Michigan is the brand new addition to the listing, with one travel-related case of measles in Oakland County confirmed by the Michigan Division of Well being and Human Companies.
Florida has additionally seen a rise in measles circumstances this week after an outbreak at an elementary college in Weston led to 9 confirmed circumstances in Broward County, in accordance with the state’s Division of Public Well being.
The outbreak made headlines after Florida Surgeon Basic Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued a letter that deferred to folks on whether or not to ship unvaccinated kids to high school, straight contradicting CDC guidance that recommends unvaccinated kids be excluded from college for 21 days after publicity.
The will increase are regarding because the variety of measles circumstances recorded throughout the US within the first two months of 2024 nears the total number — 58 — recorded all of final yr.
In a statement Monday, the Affiliation of State and Territorial Well being Officers (ASTHO) mentioned it’s “alarmed” on the measles outbreaks in the US.
“Measles was declared eradicated in the US in 2000 however remains to be probably the most simply transmitted human virus presently in circulation. Fortunately, by following established public well being ideas, People could make knowledgeable selections, stop outbreaks, and defend our communities. Vaccination is the most effective and most secure strategy to defend kids,” Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of ASTHO, mentioned within the assertion.
The rise in measles circumstances is due partially to falling vaccination charges and to elevated journey, which can lead to unvaccinated individuals buying measles overseas and bringing it again to the US, in accordance with the CDC.
Specialists recommend that kids get the measles, mumps and rubella or MMR vaccine in two doses: the primary between 12 months and 15 months of age, and a second between 4 and 6 years outdated. One dose is about 93% efficient at stopping measles an infection; two doses are about 97% efficient.
Nationwide, about 92% of US kids have gotten the MMR vaccine by age 2, in accordance with a 2023 report from the CDC – under the federal goal of 95%.
The share of kindergartners who obtained their state-required vaccines for measles additionally remained under the federal goal for the 2022-23 college yr, in accordance with CDC data. And the speed of vaccine exemptions for youngsters has reached the best degree ever reported within the US.
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Measles is a extremely contagious illness that may result in problems and switch lethal, in accordance with the CDC. Signs might embody fever, cough, runny nostril, watery eyes and a rash of purple spots. In uncommon circumstances, it might result in pneumonia, encephalitis or demise. Measles can also weaken the immune system and will “delete” its immune reminiscence.
“Measles could be notably severe for youngsters and doubtlessly lethal. No less than 1 in 5 unvaccinated individuals in the US who contract measles is hospitalized,” Plescia mentioned.
The final vital measles outbreak within the US was in 2018-19 in Rockland County, New York, centered amongst unvaccinated children in Orthodox Jewish communities. In 2019, the US had 1,274 circumstances of measles in 31 states, the best variety of circumstances reported since 1992, in accordance with the CDC.
CNN’s Jacqueline Howard, Amanda Musa and Carma Hassan contributed to this report.
