The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to medical professionals Monday on the significant rise in measles cases across the United States.
The number of cases reported in just over three months this year has matched the total number of cases in 2023, according to a CDC Health Advisory. As of March 14, 58 measles cases were declared in 17 places: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, according to the CDC.
CDC issues Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory on increase in #measles cases and outbreaks.
Clinicians: ensure children in the U.S. and those traveling internationally 6 months and older are current on MMR vaccination.
Read full alert: https://t.co/SF83Lr15lG pic.twitter.com/TVfAQiIkW7
— CDC (@CDCgov) March 18, 2024
About 93% of this year’s measles cases have been linked to international travel and mostly involved children older than one year who had not had the MMR vaccine, according to the health advisory. The CDC advised that it is important for children to get their MMR shots on time. Between 2000 and 2021, measles vaccinations prevented 56 million deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). (RELATED: State Officials Ask For CDC’s Help As Measles Outbreak Sickens Dozens Of Children)
“Many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing measles outbreaks,” the health advisory stated. “To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission from importation, all U.S. residents traveling internationally, regardless of destination, should be current on their MMR vaccinations.”
Illegal immigration is bring back the measles
The CDC recorded 58 known cases of measles in 2023, but has already recorded 45 in the first two months of 2024.
Many cases located at migrant shelters. pic.twitter.com/ChnwC94RRr
— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) March 13, 2024
Measles is a contagious disease caused by a virus that spreads through the air, the health advisory added. It can cause severe health problems and even death. The WHO reported that about 128,000 people, mostly children younger than five, died from it worldwide in 2o21.