A nationwide measles outbreak has reached 483 reported cases, with the majority of those infected being unvaccinated or having unknown vaccination status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that two more jurisdictions have added cases to their outbreak totals, putting the total at five.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) has announced 73 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 400. Most cases are concentrated in western Texas, particularly in Gaines County and surrounding areas. New Mexico has also reported more cases, with a total of 44 confirmed cases linked to the Texas outbreak.
A significant number of patients in both Texas and New Mexico were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. In contrast, only two patients in Texas had received two recommended measles vaccine doses.
The CDC warns that contact tracing efforts are ongoing, and several states have issued exposure alerts due to potential cases in travelers from outside the country. The US is on track for its worst year since 2019, when measles outbreaks struck unvaccinated close-knit communities, threatening the nation’s measles elimination status.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/us-measles-cases-approach-500-worst-year-2019