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Reuters
6 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
US measles cases at highest level since disease was declared eliminated
July 9 (Reuters) - Confirmed measles cases in the U.S. reached 1,288, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed on Wednesday, the highest since the childhood disease was declared eliminated from the country in 2000. The 'eliminated' status is given when there has not been a continuous spread of a disease for more than a year. Measles cases in the U.S. were at their highest since 1992 when they totaled 2,126, according to CDC data. The Department of Health & Human Services, which oversees the CDC, said the risk of measles infection is low for the overall U.S. population, but higher in communities with low vaccination rates in areas with active measles outbreaks. Outbreaks this year have primarily been driven by a drop in vaccination rates, particularly among children in states such as Texas and New Mexico, where coverage has fallen well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. The CDC continues to provide technical assistance, laboratory support and vaccines in response to the outbreaks, HHS said. "The U.S. is at risk of losing its measles elimination status should cases continue at this rate," said William Moss, a pediatrician at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The country surpassed 1,000 measles cases in May. Although the spread of infection has slowed since then, it has reached surrounding states. "It is true that the slope of the curve has flattened somewhat... but its hard to predict what patterns will play out," Moss said. Experts have urged public health officials to provide urgent endorsements for highly effective vaccines. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective after two doses, according to the CDC. "CDC continues to recommend MMR vaccines as the best way to protect against measles," HHS said. Disinformation, particularly around the safety of the measles vaccine, has also undermined confidence. Parallel data from Johns Hopkins University's outbreak response center, published on Friday, had also showed that measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed the previous high of 1,274 in 2019. (This story has been corrected to update the headline to include the word 'disease' and say measles cases in the US were at their highest since 1992, not in 1992, in paragraph 2)
Buzz Feed
10-07-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
US Measles Cases Reach 25-Year High Since Elimination
Hot Topic 🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Politics There have been more measles cases reported in the US this year than in any other year since the disease was declared eliminated in the country a quarter-century ago, according to a new count At least 1,277 cases have been reported as of Monday, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 despite this year being only halfway over, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's US Measles Tracker. Researchers blamed 'long-standing gaps in measles vaccine coverage' for the case surge while noting that nearly all of this year's cases — about 92%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — have occurred among those who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. 'The US is at risk of losing its measles elimination status should cases continue at this rate,' said the executive director of Johns Hopkins' International Vaccine Access Center, William Moss, who co-leads the school's measles tracking project. 'As vaccine confidence continues to be undermined, immunization is more important than ever to end this outbreak and prevent future outbreaks from occurring.' Vaccine rates have been dropping in recent years, with coverage among US kindergarteners falling from 95.2% to 92.7% during the 2023–2024 school year. A coverage rate of 95% or lower puts children at heightened risk of localized outbreaks because community immunity, also known as herd immunity, is achieved only when the vaccination rate is above 95%, according to the CDC. Approximately 88% of all confirmed cases this year have been associated with one of 27 known outbreaks, health officials said. For comparison, there were 16 outbreaks in 2024, which 69% of the year's 285 confirmed cases were linked to. The disease was declared eliminated from the US in 2000, with the CDC attributing this success to a highly effective vaccination program and better measles control in the Americas region. The milestone, which meant that there was no continuous transmission for more than 12 months, was considered one of public health's greatest achievements. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has no formal medical background, has offered inconsistent and tepid support for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and has encouraged untested treatments for the disease. In April, he falsely said that the MMR vaccine hasn't been 'safely tested' and that the protection it offers is short-lived. Kennedy was a vocal anti-vaccine activist before his appointment to the Donald Trump administration. A HHS spokesperson reminded in a statement to HuffPost that the CDC 'continues to recommend MMR vaccines as the best way to protect against measles.' They said in an email Wednesday, 'The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. People should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get inoculated and should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines.' The US was last at risk of losing its measles elimination status in 2019, when more than 1,274 measles cases were reported due to a surge in outbreaks, particularly in New York. Cases dropped to just 13 the following year, which was the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the growing number of cases this year, the disease is still considered eliminated in the US, which is not the same as eradicated. The vast majority of cases this year have been in Texas, where two school-aged children died while living in outbreak areas. Both children were not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions, according to the state's health department.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why should we take the nationwide measles outbreak seriously?
ALABAMA (WHNT) — While the measles outbreak has yet to reach Alabama, why should we take national warnings seriously? As of April 17, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed a total of 800 measles cases throughout half of the U.S. States. The CDC said an outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. So far in 2025, there have been 10 outbreaks and 94% of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated. The following states have been deemed as outbreak states, per the CDC: Texas New Mexico Kansas Michigan Indiana Ohio Pennsylvania New Jersey Tennessee Georgia The Mayo Clinic said measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus that causes a red, blotchy rash that usually appears first on the face and behind the ears, then spreads downward to the chest and back and finally to the feet. However, while it is more prevalent in children, adults can also get measles. The Clinic also outlined when someone can spread the measles virus. Roughly, a person can spread the virus to others for about eight days, starting four days before the rash appears and ending when the rash has been on the body for four days. 'I like to think of this like a forest fire with sparks spreading out. If those sparks land in a community with low vaccine coverage, we're going to see a larger measles outbreak. If it lands in a community with high vaccine coverage, we may only see one or a few cases,' Dr. William Moss, an epidemiology professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the school's International Vaccine Access Center, told The Hill. The CDC detailed a timeline for measles, starting with when someone comes into contact with the virus. In total, the infection occurs in stages over two to three weeks. Symptoms of measles normally show seven to 14 days after contact. It normally begins with a mild to moderate fever, a cough, a runny nose and red, watery eyes. Once symptoms start, the CDC said tiny white spots, known as Koplik spots, may appear inside the mouth. The measles rash normally starts showing three to five days after the first symptoms. The CDC said this usually begins as flat red spots on the face and in the hairline that then spreads down the neck, arms, legs and feet. They are normally small raised bumps that can also appear on top of the flat red spots. During this stage, the fever can spike up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The Mayo Clinic said the measles rash can last about seven days. The rash gradually fades from the face first and then the other body parts, with the rash next, with the thighs and feet last. As other symptoms start to go away, the cough and darkening or peeling of the skin where the rash was can stay for about 10 days. So far, the CDC said there are two confirmed deaths from measles in 2025, with one death under investigation. In 2024 alone, there were a total of 285 measles cases with 16 total outbreaks, but zero deaths were reported. While Alabama has no confirmed cases, there was a scare in March when the Alabama Department of Public Health was notified that an unvaccinated child who traveled through the state tested positive for measles. Alabama border states, Tennessee and Georgia, have not been as lucky. Tennessee has six confirmed cases currently in 2025. Georgia has reported roughly three cases since January 28, all in Metro Atlanta. The two additional cases were reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Feb. 7. 'What is interesting about this current outbreak is the speed at which it's expanding and increasing,' Dr. Moss told The Hill. The CDC reports that measles can be serious for those in all age groups, but several groups are more likely to have complications from measles: Children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as from leukemia or HIV infection. 'The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children may get the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead, which protects against chickenpox too. Most people who are vaccinated with MMR & MMRV will be protected for life. Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have made these diseases much less common in the United States,' the CDC said. Children need two doses of the MMR vaccine. 12-15 months old 1st dose 4-6 years old 2nd dose Older children and adults also need one or two doses of MMR vaccine if they don't have any evidence of immunity. You can learn more about vaccination to fight measles on the CDC website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US at risk of losing health designation it's had for 25 years
(NEXSTAR) – Measles was officially declared 'eliminated' in the United States in 2000. If things keep going the way they've been going in 2025, that designation could soon change. 'Measles elimination status' is achieved in a country or region when there hasn't been sustained transmission of the virus for a period of 12 months or longer, explained Dr. William Moss, an epidemiology professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the school's International Vaccine Access Center, in a media briefing this month. A country will lose that elimination status once an outbreak extends longer than a year, he said. We recently came close to crossing that threshold, but barely avoided it. 'Disappointed but not surprised': Measles cases explode in 19 states, new outbreak confirmed 'We've gone a quarter of a century with our measles elimination status,' Moss said. 'We almost lost that in 2019 when this large outbreak in New York state and New York City almost extended beyond 12 months. It was just shy of 12 months.' More than 1,200 measles cases were reported that year, largely in area without widespread vaccination, including Orthodox Jewish communities in New York. So far this year, nearly 500 cases have been confirmed, and the number has been rising every week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces its new tally. The largest outbreak of 2025 is in West Texas, where the virus has largely spread in undervaccinated Mennonite communities. Studies of past measles outbreaks in Amish communities indicate this wave of new cases could last many months or a year. 'Like a forest fire': Where large measles outbreaks will occur, according to an epidemiologist Moss said it's hard to say whether this year's outbreak, which started in January, will last longer than 12 months, but it's possible. 'I hope that is not the case and we can get a handle on this through increasing vaccination coverage but it does remain a threat and we could potentially lose our measles elimination status if this continues the way it has.' In 1978, the CDC announced a goal of eliminating the highly contagious virus. The agency set a deadline for 1982. The U.S. missed that deadline by quite a few years, but finally achieved elimination by 2000 'thanks to a highly effective vaccination program in the United States, as well as better measles control in the Americas region,' the CDC says. Vaccine skepticism has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are early signs more people are getting vaccinated with against measles since the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico began, the Associated Press reports. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump administration to cut vaccine support to developing countries: report
President Donald Trump's administration is set to cut funding to Gavi, the global health organization that provides vaccines across the developing world, a report said Wednesday. The decision was included in a 281-page spreadsheet that the severely downsized United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sent to Congress on Monday night. The document details which grants the agency intends to continue and which it will terminate, according to the New York Times, which obtained a copy. The United States will also significantly scale back support for malaria programs but will maintain some funding streams for treating HIV, tuberculosis, and providing food aid in countries facing conflict and natural disasters. Only 869 of more than 6,000 USAID employees remain on active duty, according to the Times. The administration has decided to continue about 900 grants while ending over 5,340. The newspaper estimated a $40 billion reduction in the annual budget of the agency, which has since been absorbed by its parent department, the State Department. "#USA support for @Gavi is vital. With US support, we can save over 8 million lives over the next 5 years and give millions of children a better chance at a healthy, prosperous future," Gavi, a public-private partnership headquartered in Geneva, wrote on X in response to the report. "The withdrawal of US financial support for Gavi would severely threaten the tremendous progress made in reducing deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases and would increase the risk of outbreaks here in the United States," added William Moss, executive director of the international vaccines access center at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It estimated that US support over the past 25 years has helped save 18 million lives and enabled 19 countries to transition away from Gavi's support, with some becoming donors themselves. The United States provides around a quarter of the organization's budget. ia/md
