January 26, 2024 – Nearly two dozen cases of measles have occurred within the United States prior to now two months. The number has reached a tipping point, prompting the CDC to warn health care providers to be looking out for individuals with symptoms akin to a rash, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
There have been 23 confirmed cases of measles within the USA since December 1st alarmwhich was published in an email newsletter from the agency.
Among the 23 cases, there have been not less than two concentrated clusters of 5 or more cases. Seven cases were related to international travel. The CDC said measles ought to be particularly suspected in symptomatic individuals who have recently traveled internationally.
“Measles cases often originate from unvaccinated or undervaccinated U.S. citizens who travel abroad and then transmit the disease to people who are not vaccinated against measles,” the CDC alert says. “The increased number of measles imports in recent weeks reflects a rise in global measles cases and a growing global threat from the disease.”
According to the CDC, many of the 23 people on this latest U.S. infection count were children who had not been vaccinated against measles.
One of the outbreaks occurred in Philadelphia, where people were infected at a hospital and a daycare center, in line with a Summary of US cases from the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) on the University of Minnesota.
The other major outbreak occurred amongst relations within the 12 months Washingtonsaid a neighborhood television news station.
There were also cases reported this month in Georgia, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
A case in New Jersey Someone who attended a daycare center was involved. Health authorities raised the likelihood that individuals could have been exposed when the patient visited a children's hospital and emergency room.
In its advisory, the CDC asked health care providers to isolate people suspected of getting measles, “ideally in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), if available, or in a private room with a closed door until an AIIR is available.” ”
Measles is very contagious and fever can reach as much as 30% 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants and young children are at particular risk of great complications. About one in five unvaccinated individuals who get measles will probably be hospitalized, the CDC says, adding that possible illnesses include pneumonia and brain swelling that may result in deafness or mental retardation severe complications.
Public health officials have recently warned of an increasing risk of measles outbreaks because the number of youngsters receiving routine vaccinations akin to the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shots declines. The first vaccination is normally given across the age of 1 12 months and the second vaccination between the ages of 4 and 6. According to the CDC, the two-dose series is 97% effective in stopping measles, and a single dose is 93% effective.
“We’re going to see more and more of these outbreaks,” said CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH USA today. “We will see more children becoming seriously ill, hospitalized and even dying. And the tragedy is that all of this is preventable.”