Cases of measles continue to crop up across the U.S. as federal officials urge vaccination and warn of potential exposure to the disease. The CDC is asking healthcare providers to be on the lookout for measles symptoms, as more cases have cropped up across the U.S. A total of 23 measles cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between Dec. 1 and Jan. 23, according to a recent health alert.
The latest uptick in U.S. measles cases in the U.S., is of particular concern in light of a more widespread outbreak of the disease occurring globally. In the United Kingdom, since Oct. 1, 2023, there have been 347 cases, according to the UK Health Security Agency, including 127 in January 2024. England’s National Health Service reports more than 3 million of the country’s children under the age 16 years are either unprotected or not fully protected from measles. Last December, the World Health Organization warned of an “alarming rise” in measles cases throughout Europe, with more than 42,000 people infected across 41 nations in 2023, according to the agency, compared to a total of 941 in all of 2022.
The CDC notes that U.S. cases often come from unvaccinated or under-vaccinated residents who travel internationally and then return home and spread the disease. The latest increase in cases raises concerns over the decline in Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccinations among kindergartners since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2024