Measles cases hit high for 21st century

The number of reported cases of measles in the USA has surpassed annual totals this century – less than four months into 2019.

Another outbreak of measles cases, most of them concentrated in New York City, raised this year’s figure to 695, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The previous highest total since 2000, when measles was declared eliminated in the country, was 667 in 2014. At no other point in this century had the amount climbed above 400.

Health officials warn that the longer the outbreaks continue, the greater the chance that measles will again become entrenched in the USA.

New York officials said Wednesday that 61 cases were confirmed since last week, pushing the national figure closer to the 700 mark and making this the worst year for measles since 1994, when there were 963 cases.

The disease, which typically kills one or two people per 1,000 cases and can cause long-term damage, has made a comeback largely because of pockets of unvaccinated communities.

“Probably the No. 1 factor we have to fight is misinformation, this concept some people have that vaccines are dangerous,” said Judd Hultquist, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg

School of Medicine.

Public health practitioners regard the measles vaccine, which is administered along with immunization for mumps and rubella, as safe and highly effective. It provides 93% protection after a first dose, recommended at 12 to 15 months old, and 97% protection after a second shot at ages 4 to 6.

About three-quarters of this year’s illnesses in the USA have been in New York state, mainly in two ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and suburban Rockland County. New York declared a state of emergency and barred unvaccinated minors from public places in late March. The order was blocked in court. Ultra-Orthodox rabbis generally have no religious objections to vaccines and urged followers to get inoculated, but the antivaxxer movement has made inroads among the ultra-Orthodox.

The CDC said measles cases have been reported in 22 states this year, including outbreaks – defined as three or more instances – in six states.

Measles is highly contagious and can spread through coughing and sneezing. The virus can last for up to two hours on a contaminated surface. Symptoms of the disease, which has no cure, may take a week or two to appear and include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts in the face and spreads.

“Probably the No. 1 factor we have to fight is misinformation, this concept some people have that vaccines are dangerous.” Judd Hultquist Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine