Measles cases in the US hit a 25-year high as new outbreaks emerg

[Starmix]

According to the report, measles cases in the United States have surged to their highest level in more than two decades, with outbreaks spreading across several states despite efforts to contain the disease.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1,563 measles cases have been recorded nationwide since January – the largest total since the country declared measles eliminated in 2000.

Since the end of August, an average of 27 new measles cases has been reported weekly.

The report also said that a new outbreak has emerged in Ohio, cases are rising sharply in Minnesota, and more than 150 unvaccinated schoolchildren in South Carolina are quarantined amid an ongoing outbreak, according to a CNN report. Before this year, the US had seen only 10 significant measles outbreaks – defined by the CDC as involving more than 50 linked cases – since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.

In addition to the report, the current outbreak along the Arizona-Utah border is already the third major measles outbreak in the US this year. More than 90 cases have been confirmed in the outbreak, at least 59 in Arizona and 36 in Utah, according to state health departments, with numbers still rising.

A measles case reported Thursday in Greenville County, South Carolina’s most populous county, is under investigation for a possible link to the Spartanburg outbreak, though the state health department said there are no known related cases elsewhere.

Source: PNA (Anadolu)

 

[gwolf666]

This surge in measles cases across the United States is deeply concerning, especially considering that measles was declared eliminated over two decades ago. The numbers speak for themselves: 1,563 cases since January and multiple significant outbreaks in states like Ohio, Minnesota, South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah indicate a serious lapse in vaccination coverage. It’s alarming to see that more than 150 unvaccinated schoolchildren are currently quarantined, which highlights the ongoing risks posed by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Measles is highly contagious, and even a small drop in immunization rates can quickly lead to outbreaks, putting vulnerable populations, including infants and immunocompromised individuals, at serious risk. This situation underscores the importance of public health campaigns, proactive vaccination drives, and timely containment measures. Communities must prioritize vaccination and education to prevent the further spread of measles and protect the population. Ignoring these warnings could reverse decades of progress in public health.