A spike in measles cases, largely caused by people not getting vaccinated, poses a “renewed threat” to the declaration in 2000 that the highly contagious airborne disease had been eliminated in the United States.
“The U.S. measles elimination status will continue to be threatened by global increases in measles incidence and decreases in global, national, and local measles vaccination coverage,” the CDC said in a report released Thursday. Elimination status means the disease is no longer constantly present in the country.
So far this year, the country has seen more than 120 cases of measles, according to CDC data. That’s more than double the number reported for all of last year.
The CDC said “the rapid increase in the number of reported measles cases during the first quarter of 2024 represents a renewed threat to elimination.”
The chances of widespread measles transmission in the U.S. remain low given the country’s “high population immunity,” the agency added. But the rise in cases is especially dangerous for infants and undervaccinated communities.
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www.npr.org/2024/04/12/1244281332/measles-cases-spike-elimination-cdc