A measles outbreak has been reported in Michigan for the first time since 2019. According to health officials, seven cases have been confirmed so far this year. The majority of cases are linked to Montcalm County, where almost 25% of children under three years old remain unvaccinated against the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a total of over 700 measles cases in at least 24 states nationwide, with Texas accounting for most of these cases. Measles is highly contagious, spreading to up to nine out of ten susceptible close contacts.
Health officials are urging anyone who hasn’t received the MMR vaccine to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends two doses of the vaccine for optimal protection, with a recommended age range of 12-15 months and 4-6 years old. One dose is 93% effective in preventing measles, while two doses offer 97% protection.
The outbreak comes as measles cases have increased globally since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, when an estimated three to four million people were infected annually, resulting in up to 400 deaths.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/michigan-reports-confirmed-measles-outbreak-2019/story?id=120920799