The US measles count has reached 1,197 confirmed cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ohio officials have confirmed three outbreaks are over, a relief for health authorities.
Canada is also struggling with outbreaks, with Ontario reporting 2,083 cases and Alberta reporting 868 cases. Mexico’s Chihuahua state has reported 2,179 measles cases with four deaths. The US has reported measles cases in 42 states, including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Measles is caused by the measles virus and can spread through respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces. The best way to avoid measles is through vaccination with two doses of the MMR vaccine recommended for children between 12-15 months and 4-6 years old.
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, runny nose, cough, red watery eyes, and a rash that typically appears three-five days after symptoms begin. Complications can be severe, including pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death.
Health officials emphasize the importance of herd immunity, which requires vaccination rates above 95% to prevent the spread of measles.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-vaccination-rfk-mmr-e5d928e41fd6b3dc6ade087662d61c5c