Measles outbreak second largest since disease was eliminated in 2000

Updated: 7:04 PM EDT Apr 1, 2019

By Susan Scutti


A total of 387 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 15 states from Jan. 1 to March 28, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is the second-largest number of casesreported in the United States since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. The highest number of reported cases since the elimination was 667 in 2014.

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or if a person comes into direct contact with an infected person or shares germs by touching the same objects or surfaces as an infected person.

The states reporting cases are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

An outbreak is defined as three or more cases, and the CDC says six outbreaks are ongoing in Santa Cruz and Butte County in California; in New Jersey; in Rockland County and New York City in New York; and in Washington.

These outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries such as Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines, where large measles outbreaks are occurring.





Typical measles symptoms, which include high fever, rash all over the body, stuffy nose and reddened eyes, usually disappear without treatment within two or three weeks, though a severe case of the measles can lead to death.

Last week, in an effort to contain an outbreak of measles that began in October, Rockland County, New York, banned unvaccinated people under age 18 from public places. As of Friday, the county reported 153 confirmed cases, though state health officials noted that additional cases have not been reported.

Last year, the CDC reported 372 total cases and 17 outbreaks, with three areas -- New York, New York City and New Jersey — contributing most of the cases. All three area outbreaks were linked to travelers bringing measles back from Israel and then spreading the virus among unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities.

A total of 82 people brought measles into the nation from other countries in 2018. This is the greatest number of imported cases since measles was declared eliminated in the United States.

Since 1963, when the vaccine was introduced, the number of cases and deaths from measles in the United States and other developed countries has plummeted.

Prior to the vaccine, measles caused approximately 450 to 500 deaths each year in the United States.

The measles vaccine, known as the MMR vaccine, is very effective. One dose is about 93 percent effective at preventing measles if you come in contact with the virus. Two doses are about 97 percent effective. Experts recommend that children receive the vaccine in two doses: the first between ages 12 months and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions, according to the CDC. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but there is a remote chance of the vaccine causing side effects and even serious injuries.

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