The US has logged fewer than 30 measles cases last week as outbreaks in several states continued to dwindle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there have been 1,197 confirmed measles cases this year, with three other major outbreaks in Canada.
Measles cases have been reported in all 50 states, with the majority of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals who contracted the disease abroad. The CDC said that more than twice as many measles cases have come from outside of the US compared to last year, and most are in unvaccinated Americans returning home.
The vaccine is still the best way to avoid measles, with a two-dose series recommended for children between 12-15 months old and 4-6 years old. Adults can receive a booster shot if needed. People born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots due to “presumptive immunity.”
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and a characteristic rash that appears three to five days after the first symptoms. Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death.
The CDC said that childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic, leading to more cases of measles in unvaccinated individuals. However, states with high vaccination rates above 95% tend to see fewer cases of measles due to “herd immunity.”
Source: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/state/us-measles-count-nears-1-200-cases-as-ohio-officials-confirm-3-outbreaks-are-over