- The CDC warns healthcare providers of a rise in measles cases, with 23 confirmed infections between December 1, 2023, and January 23, 2024, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Washington, D.C. area.
- Most of the cases were among children and adolescents who had not been vaccinated, reflecting a global increase in infections.
- The CDC advises healthcare providers to be vigilant for symptoms, isolate suspected patients, test and notify health departments, and ensure close contacts receive post-exposure prophylaxis and vaccination.
Additional Coverage:
- CDC warns health care workers to be on alert for measles amid rising number of cases (abcnews.go.com)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is cautioning healthcare providers to remain vigilant for measles cases as the number of infections continues to rise. Between December 1, 2023, and January 23, 2024, there have been 23 confirmed cases of measles, with seven cases being attributed to international travelers and two outbreaks involving five or more infections each. The affected areas include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Washington, D.C. area.
Most of the reported cases were among children and adolescents who had not received the measles vaccine despite being eligible. The CDC explains that the majority of measles cases in the United States occur when unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals travel internationally, contract the disease, and then spread it to unvaccinated individuals upon their return. This increase in cases reflects a global rise in infections, making it a “growing global threat,” according to the federal health agency.
The CDC advised healthcare providers to be on alert for patients displaying symptoms consistent with measles, such as febrile rash illness, cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis, especially if they have recently traveled abroad to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks. If a patient is suspected of having measles, they should be isolated immediately for at least four days from the onset of symptoms, and the local or state health departments should be notified. Testing should be conducted, close contacts should receive post-exposure prophylaxis, and all contacts who have not received their measles vaccinations should be vaccinated.
Measles is highly contagious, with the CDC stating that each infected individual can spread the virus to up to 10 close contacts if they are not protected, either by wearing masks or receiving vaccinations. Measles can lead to complications ranging from benign rashes to more severe conditions like viral sepsis, pneumonia, or brain swelling.
The CDC emphasizes that individuals who have had measles or have received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are protected against measles. A single dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing infection when exposed to the virus, while two doses are 97% effective.
Although measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 thanks to a successful vaccination campaign, outbreaks have occurred in recent years within unvaccinated pockets of the country. In Ohio, between November 2022 and February 2023, 85 children were affected by measles, with 80 of them being unvaccinated. In California, an outbreak occurred between December 2014 and February 2015, with 125 people being infected after an unidentified person with measles visited Disneyland.