Atlanta, Georgia – The United States is facing a resurgence of measles cases, with 128 reported cases in 20 jurisdictions so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks the highest number of cases since 2019, posing a threat to the country’s disease elimination status declared in 2000.
Global health experts have raised concerns about the significant increase in measles cases worldwide, nearly doubling from 2022 to 2023. Dr. Patrick O’Connor of the World Health Organization presented data showing 171,153 cases in 2022, 321,582 cases in 2023, and over 94,000 cases in 2024. The actual number of cases may be higher than reported, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the outbreak.
Measles, a highly contagious airborne disease, can have serious health consequences, particularly for young children and those who are unvaccinated. Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a characteristic rash of red spots. The disease can lead to hospitalization, pneumonia, and in severe cases, respiratory and neurologic complications.
The US has set a target vaccination rate of 95% to prevent measles outbreaks, but coverage among kindergarteners has fallen below that threshold in recent years. Only 93.1% of kindergarteners had completed their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine series in the 2022-23 school year, leaving approximately 250,000 children at risk of infection.
Measles vaccination has been instrumental in preventing an estimated 57 million deaths between 2000 and 2022, underscoring the importance of maintaining high immunization coverage. Health experts emphasize the need for robust outreach efforts, rapid outbreak response, and equitable routine immunization to sustain progress towards measles and rubella elimination globally.
In light of the ongoing measles crisis, international efforts to address outbreaks in conflict-affected and fragile countries are crucial. With measles outbreaks on the rise, health authorities stress the importance of vaccination as a key strategy to protect individuals and communities from the potentially deadly disease.