Measles vaccination rates fell in almost 8 in 10 US counties after COVID pandemic: Research
New research shows measles vaccination rates for children fell in almost 8 to 10 counties across the country after the COVID pandemic.
A John Hopkins University study tracked immunization records across 2,066 counties and 33 states. They compared the kindergarten vaccination rates from 2017-2020 to averages from 2022-2024, as reported by the Associated Press.
Their study comes a month after over 1,000 measles cases were reported in the U.S. backtracking on the country's declaration of measles elimination in 2000.
The outbreak was first reported in Texas and soon spread to Kentucky, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri and Montana in addition to other areas.
John Hopkins found that counties in the Lone Star state saw a two-percentage-point increase in vaccination rates after the pandemic at 82.4 percent, as reported by the AP.
However, 742 residents have contracted measles rendering the state below herd immunity.
Gaines County, Terry County, Lubbock County and El Paso County have seen the most cases.
Kansas saw children's vaccination rates spiral in counties after the pandemic.
Gray County recorded a 23-percentage point drop in measles immunizations after COVID, while Haskell County measured a decline of 18 percent and the number of vaccinated children in Stevens County fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Officials in Stevens have recorded 7 cases of measles, Haskell leaders have reported 11 individuals with measles and Gray County said 25 people have contracted the infectious disease.
Post-pandemic vaccination levels also fell in Colorado, more specifically, El Paso County. There the vaccination rate dropped by 3.8 percentage points, AP reported.
Residents in Arapahoe County saw a 3.5 percentage point decrease in vaccination rates. The state has reported a total of 12 measles cases.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) said 30 percent of the contracted measles cases are found in individuals under the age of 5, noting that 22 percent of those with an outbreak in the age category have been hospitalized.
Thirty-seven percent of individuals who contracted measles through the recent outbreak are between the ages of 5-19 and 32 percent are over the age of 20.
'The risk for widespread measles in the United States remains low due to robust U.S. immunization and surveillance programs and outbreak response capacity supported by federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial health partners. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles,' the CDC wrote in March when 222 cases were reported nationwide.
'To prevent measles infection and spread from imported cases, all U.S. residents should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially before traveling internationally, regardless of the destination,' it added.
Amid health concerns, President Trump's proposed budget aims to cut $3.6 billion in discretionary funding for the CDC.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas Woman Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Using RV Tap Water For Sinus Rinse
A Texas woman died from a rare and deadly brain infection after using unboiled tap water from an RV's water system for nasal irrigation while staying at a campground, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 71-year-old woman, who was healthy before the infection, used a nasal irrigation device with tap water from the RV's water system several times over four days. Within four days of her last use, she developed severe neurological symptoms, including fever, headache, and altered mental status, the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated. She developed seizures and died eight days after symptoms began. Laboratory testing confirmed Naegleria fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid, indicating primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease with a fatality rate exceeding 97%. Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the 'brain-eating amoeba,' is a free-living organism found in warm freshwater environments like lakes, rivers, and hot springs. Infections occur when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain. From 1962 to 2022, the U.S. reported 157 (primary amebic meningoencephalitis) PAM cases, with Texas accounting for 39. While most cases are linked to recreational water activities, nasal irrigation with contaminated water is a known risk. The CDC noted that the woman had no recent exposure to natural bodies of water, suggesting the RV's water system was the likely source of infection. The RV's water tank had been filled before the woman purchased it three months before her death, but the filling location is unknown. No samples from the campsite or RV water system tested positive for the amoeba, leaving the exact source of contamination unclear. The CDC emphasized that only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water should be used for nasal rinsing, as tap water, even if safe for drinking, may contain organisms harmful when introduced into the nasal passages. To prevent PAM, the CDC recommends holding your nose or wearing a nose clip when diving into freshwater, keeping your head above water in hot springs, avoiding digging in shallow water, and using boiled or distilled water for nasal irrigation. The specific Texas campground where the infection occurred was not disclosed. This case underscores the critical need for public awareness about safe water use for nasal irrigation to prevent such rare but devastating infections.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs sickens dozens of people across 7 states
More than 70 people across seven states have been sickened due to a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs recalled by a California-based egg distributor, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Friday, the August Egg Company recalled 1.7 million dozen brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs, sold under multiple brand names, that have the 'potential to be contaminated,' according to a recall notice from the US Food and Drug Administration. Of the 79 people sickened, 21 people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, the CDC said. The eggs were sold to restaurants and retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming, according to the CDC. They were distributed at retail locations including Walmart, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. Salmonella can 'cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,' according to the FDA. Salmonella can also cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in healthy people who get infected. 'August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens,' the company said in a statement provided to the FDA. 'It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens.' The company also said its internal food safety team is 'conducting its own stringent review' to identify future preventative measures. 'We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again,' the company said. The CDC recommends that anyone who has the recalled eggs in their home or business throw them out or return them to the store where they were purchased.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs makes dozens sick across 7 states in the West and Midwest
A salmonella outbreak linked to a large egg recall has made dozens of people sick in seven states in the West and Midwest, federal health officials said Saturday. The August Egg Company recalled about 1.7 million brown organic and brown cage-free egg varieties distributed to grocery stores between February and May because of the potential for salmonella, according to an announcement posted Friday on the Food and Drug Administration's website. At least 79 people in seven states have gotten a strain of salmonella that was linked to the eggs, and 21 people have been hospitalized, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The recall covers Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. Plant code numbers for the recalled eggs are P-6562 or CA5330, according to the CDC's website. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map shows the locations of people affected by a Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring," according to comments posted from the company on the FDA's website. "We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization. The CDC advises people to throw away recalled eggs or return them to the store where they were purchased. Consumers should also wash and disinfect any surfaces that came in contact with the eggs. This is the latest in a string of salmonella-related outbreaks recently involving food. A tomato recall affecting three southern states was upgraded to a Class I recall, the most severe warning by the Food and Drug Administration. The recall was first announced in May over potential salmonella contamination. Also, nearly four dozen people across 18 states are sick with salmonella food poisoning tied to recalled cucumbers, according to federal health officials. In an update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the expanding outbreak led to at least 16 people being hospitalized.
