U.S. measles cases highest since 1994
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 971 cases of measles in the U.S. in the first five months of 2019 – the greatest number of cases reported since 1994, which saw 963 cases reported for the entire year.
CDC says the outbreaks in New York City and Rockland County, NY have continued for nearly 7 months, adding that if the trend continues the country may lose its measles elimination status. “That loss would be a huge blow for the nation and erase the hard work done by all levels of public health,” said the CDC in a news update, noting that the agency continues to work with affected state and local health departments to get ongoing outbreaks under control.
CDC says the measles elimination goal, first announced in 1963 and accomplished in 2000, was a “monumental task,” and before widespread use of the measles vaccine, an estimated 3 to 4 million Americans caught the disease every year. An estimated 400 to 500 deaths and 48,000 hospitalizations also occurred.
“Again, I want to reassure parents that vaccines are safe, they do not cause autism,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, in a statement. “The greater danger is the disease that vaccination prevents.”
CDC says measles was eliminated in the U.S. because of the “availability and widespread use of a safe and highly effective measles vaccine and strong public health infrastructure to detect and contain measles.”
Everyone 6 months and older should be protected against measles before traveling internationally, says the agency, and babies 6 to 11 months old need one dose of measles vaccine before traveling. Everyone 12 months and older needs two doses.
