Measles cases in the US have significantly increased in the first quarter of 2024 according to the CDC, with over 100 cases as of mid-April compared to typical numbers in recent years.
Experts expressed alarm over the rising trend of this preventable disease.
The majority of cases were among the unvaccinated or those with unknown vaccination status.
“What was surprising about 2024 is that we’ve seen a significant increase,” epidemiologist John Brownstein said.
“It’s an alarming number, because it indicates a trend going in the wrong direction for us, a virus that we have successfully controlled, a virus that we successfully have an effective vaccine for.”
While the MMR vaccine has successfully controlled measles, experts warn it only takes a small susceptible population for an outbreak to occur.
They stress the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates, identifying at-risk communities, and promoting immunization especially before international travel.
“I think that people need to remember that this is a preventable disease,” Susan Hassig, an infectious disease researcher at Tulane University, stated.
“It is a potentially dangerous disease for their children.”
The CDC recommends all children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine to protect against a highly contagious disease that was once eliminated in the US. Enhanced vaccination efforts are needed to reduce spread and complications.
