Measles cases spike after leveling off

839 cases in 23 states; most of 75 new reports from New York City area

The number of measles cases reported nationwide this year jumped by 75 last week, pushing the total to 839 in 23 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.

This year’s total marks the most U.S. cases since 1994. Measles was declared eliminated in the USA in 2000.

The 75 cases are a higher bump than in the previous two weeks, when about 60 additional cases were reported each week.

“This spike is concerning, especially because the downward trend in recent weeks demonstrated that it was possible to keep the infection rates from going up,” said Ogbonnaya Omenka, an associate professor and public health specialist at Butler University.

Most of the new cases were in New York City and its suburbs, where hundreds of cases have been reported this year. The area is home to Orthodox Jewish communities where many parents refuse to allow vaccinations for their children. Authorities mandated vaccinations in some ZIP codes.

Outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from countries such as Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines, where large measles outbreaks are occurring, the CDC said. The travelers spread the disease to unvaccinated people in the USA, the agency said.

The CDC urges vaccination, a position rejected by opponents. Last week, Texas state Rep. Jonathan Stickland called vaccines “sorcery” in a social media post criticizing a vaccine expert. “Vaccines are dangerous,” Stickland said, comparing government involvement in vaccinations to communism.

In Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill Friday ending personal or philosophical measles vaccine exemptions for most parents whose kids will attend day care centers or schools. Dozens of parents protested outside the signing.

Primary symptoms of the disease include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash that can spread across the entire body, the CDC said. In a small number of cases, people can develop pneumonia, swelling of the brain or other serious symptoms. Measles can cause men to become sterile and pregnant women to deliver prematurely.

STEPH CHAMBERS/AP University of Pittsburgh pharmacy student Alexandria Taylor prepares syringes during a free measles vaccination clinic May 8 in Pittsburgh.