Latest news with #ConradFischer
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'This should not be happening,' doctor says as measles cases rise to more than 900 in U.S.
May 2 (UPI) -- Measles cases in the United States climbed to 939 in 29 states this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. With the year only one-third over, the cases are the second most since 2000, when the disease was officially declared eliminated by the CDC. The highest in 25 years was 1,273 in 2019 with 285 in 2024. Six states are reporting outbreaks, meaning three or more related cases: Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. The data include cases reported to the CDC as of noon Thursday. Texas has a state-high 663, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas' vaccination rate is 94.3%. West Virginia is the highest at 98.3% and the worst is Idaho at 79.6%. Weekly cases reported peaked on March 30 with 111 reported. The Chicago area reported its first measles cases this week, one in a suburban Cook County resident with unknown vaccination status and another in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally and received one dose of the MMR vaccine, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health. Among the cases this year, the CDC said about 96% are among unvaccinated people or unknown status. Conversely, 2% are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, and 2% among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC. Of the cases, 13% of patients have been hospitalized with most younger than 19 years old. "This is a disease that was at the level of complete eradication; this should not be happening," Dr. Conrad Fischer, chief of infectious diseases at One Brooklyn Health in New York City, told ABC News. "It's very sad to have an enormously safe vaccine that has been used in billions of people and to have a sort of cultural societal amnesia about what these illnesses were like in the past." Measles is the most contagious infectious disease known to humans, and is spread through the air by respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. "For instance, tuberculosis will spread only to 2 or 3% of the people exposed," he said. "But if you are not vaccinated and you're exposed to someone with measles, you have a 90% chance of getting that infection." Symptoms include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever, and a red, blotchy skin rash. Over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A may help. Six American countries have reported 2,318 cases so far this year: U.S., Canada (1,069), Mexico (421), Argentina (21), Belize (1) and Brazil (5), have reported a total of 2,318 cases so far this year, according to World Health Organization. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 after the debut of the vaccination program, meaning there is no measles spreading within the country and new cases are only found when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to the country. The measles vaccine was first licensed for public use in 1963, according to the WHO. The first MMR vaccine was administered in 1971. Before then, nearly every child got measles by the time they were 15. The CDC estimates that 3 to 4 million in the U.S. were sickened by measles every year before the vaccine. That included 48,000 hospitalized and 400-500 deaths. Also, about 1,000 people suffered encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles cases surpass 900 in US as infections confirmed in 29 states, CDC data shows
Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 900 as outbreaks continue to spread across the county, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data published Friday. A total of 935 cases have been confirmed in 29 states including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. At least six states including Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas are reporting outbreaks, meaning three or more related cases. MORE: Even a small uptick in vaccination could prevent millions of US measles cases. Here's how The CDC says 13% of measles patients in the U.S. this year have been hospitalized, the majority of whom are under age 19. Among the nationally confirmed cases, CDC says about 96% are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Meanwhile, 2% are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 2% are among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC. Dr. Conrad Fischer, chief of infectious diseases at One Brooklyn Health in New York City, told ABC News he is concerned about the growing number of cases in the U.S. "This is a disease that was at the level of complete eradication; this should not be happening," he said. "It's very sad to have an enormously safe vaccine that has been used in billions of people and to have a sort of cultural societal amnesia about what these illnesses were like in the past." In the decade before the measles vaccine became available, the CDC estimates that 3 to 4 million in the U.S. were sickened by measles every year, about 48,000 were hospitalized and about 400 to 500 people died. About 1,000 people suffered encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. But vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years, leading to an increase in cases. In Texas, where an outbreak has been spreading in the western part of the state, at least 663 cases have been confirmed as of Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. MORE: Amid growing Texas outbreak, how contagious is measles? Meanwhile, officials in Denton County -- in the eastern part of the state outside Dallas and Fort Worth -- reported its first measles case this week in a patient who attended a Texas Rangers game. The infected individual, an adult with unknown vaccination status, visited Globe Life Field and a handful of restaurants and other locations, Denton officials said. Additionally, Chicago reported its first measles cases this week, one in a suburban Cook County resident with unknown vaccination status and another in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally and received one dose of the MMR vaccine, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health. It comes as a WHO report this week found that cases in the Americas are 11 times higher this year than they were at the same time last year. Six countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Belize and Brazil, have reported a total of 2,318 cases so far this year. Last year had 205 cases at the same time. Fischer said measles is not a benign virus and can cause serious complications, especially among vulnerable individuals such as young children and immunocompromised people. "Measles has a chance to literally destroy your brain, to cause pneumonia, ear infections and, although it is only fatal in a relatively small number of people, it spreads so amazingly easily that even if it's only a few percentages, it's something extremely dangerous," he said. Fischer emphasized that measles is the most contagious infectious disease known to humans, even compared to other dangerous diseases like tuberculosis. "For instance, tuberculosis will spread only to two or 3% of the people exposed," he said. "But if you are not vaccinated and you're exposed to someone with measles, you have a 90% chance of getting that infection." MORE: RFK Jr. claims measles can be treated with vitamin A, linked to poor diet. Here's what science says Dr. Whitney Harrington, a physician in the division of infectious diseases at Seattle Children's Hospital, told ABC News the U.S. is at risk of measles becoming endemic again unless vaccination rates increase. The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says. "We really know that vaccines are the single most important public health intervention for preventing infectious disease," Harrington said. "And we know that they've dramatically decreased really the number of cases and the severity of cases of many infections, including measles." She encouraged parents who have not vaccinated their children yet to speak with a doctor or a health care provider about vaccination and the benefits of vaccination. ABC News Youri' Benadjaoud contributed to this report. Measles cases surpass 900 in US as infections confirmed in 29 states, CDC data shows originally appeared on
02-05-2025
- Health
Measles cases surpass 900 in US as infections confirmed in 29 states, CDC data shows
Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 900 as outbreaks continue to spread across the county, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data published Friday. A total of 935 cases have been confirmed in 29 states including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. At least six states including Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas are reporting outbreaks, meaning three or more related cases. The CDC says 13% of measles patients in the U.S. this year have been hospitalized, the majority of whom are under age 19. Among the nationally confirmed cases, CDC says about 96% are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Meanwhile, 2% are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 2% are among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC. Dr. Conrad Fischer, chief of infectious diseases at One Brooklyn Health in New York City, told ABC News he is concerned about the growing number of cases in the U.S. "This is a disease that was at the level of complete eradication; this should not be happening," he said. "It's very sad to have an enormously safe vaccine that has been used in billions of people and to have a sort of cultural societal amnesia about what these illnesses were like in the past." In the decade before the measles vaccine became available, the CDC estimates that 3 to 4 million in the U.S. were sickened by measles every year, about 48,000 were hospitalized and about 400 to 500 people died. About 1,000 people suffered encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. But vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years, leading to an increase in cases. In Texas, where an outbreak has been spreading in the western part of the state, at least 663 cases have been confirmed as of Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Meanwhile, officials in Denton County -- in the eastern part of the state outside Dallas and Fort Worth -- reported its first measles case this week in a patient who attended a Texas Rangers game. The infected individual, an adult with unknown vaccination status, visited Globe Life Field and a handful of restaurants and other locations, Denton officials said. Additionally, Chicago reported its first measles cases this week, one in a suburban Cook County resident with unknown vaccination status and another in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally and received one dose of the MMR vaccine, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health. It comes as a WHO report this week found that cases in the Americas are 11 times higher this year than they were at the same time last year. Six countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Belize and Brazil, have reported a total of 2,318 cases so far this year. Last year had 205 cases at the same time. Fischer said measles is not a benign virus and can cause serious complications, especially among vulnerable individuals such as young children and immunocompromised people. "Measles has a chance to literally destroy your brain, to cause pneumonia, ear infections and, although it is only fatal in a relatively small number of people, it spreads so amazingly easily that even if it's only a few percentages, it's something extremely dangerous," he said. Fischer emphasized that measles is the most contagious infectious disease known to humans, even compared to other dangerous diseases like tuberculosis. "For instance, tuberculosis will spread only to two or 3% of the people exposed," he said. "But if you are not vaccinated and you're exposed to someone with measles, you have a 90% chance of getting that infection." Dr. Whitney Harrington, a physician in the division of infectious diseases at Seattle Children's Hospital, told ABC News the U.S. is at risk of measles becoming endemic again unless vaccination rates increase. The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says. "We really know that vaccines are the single most important public health intervention for preventing infectious disease," Harrington said. "And we know that they've dramatically decreased really the number of cases and the severity of cases of many infections, including measles." She encouraged parents who have not vaccinated their children yet to speak with a doctor or a health care provider about vaccination and the benefits of vaccination.
