In an alarming development, the largest yearly tally of measles cases in more than three decades has been recorded in the U.S. this year, as per statistics from the International Vaccine Access Center of Johns Hopkins University. As of July 11, the U.S. had accrued 1,299 confirmed instances of the contagion. This year’s outbreak of the infectious disease — which can be warded off through vaccination — spans across 38 states and the District of Columbia, raising grave public health concerns.
In a rather astounding turn of events, the measles tally for this year has outstripped the 2019 outbreak numbers, which were previously the highest recorded since 1992. As per the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI), authorities had reported over 2100 infections during the outbreak in 2019.
The current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has, over time, delivered inconsistent messages pertaining to measles vaccines. Initially, Kennedy downplayed the severity of the outbreak and did not champion the cause of the vaccine. However, in a change of stance, he is now backing a statement that unequivocally declares vaccines as the best preventive measure against measles, according to an assertion by HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon.
While acknowledging the choice of certain individuals and communities across the U.S. to abstain from vaccination, Nixon further stated that the department is committed to assisting all families irrespective of their vaccination status. Their primary objective is to help these families evade the risks of severe complications and death linked to measles, which may also necessitate hospitalization.
Contrastingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has maintained silence over the media about the ongoing measles outbreak, a divergence from its norm of hosting media briefings during large-scale disease outbreaks. This approach has fueled further concern among health agencies and experts.
Claire Hannan, who serves as the executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, vividly voiced the distress caused by the outbreak. She emphasized the extensive efforts undertaken to terminate the measles threat and the resulting disappointment due to the resurgence.
In this outbreak, about 155 individuals have been hospitalized, and three fatalities have occurred as a consequence of measles. The casualties include a male adult from New Mexico and two seemingly healthy children from Texas, all of whom had not been vaccinated.
Reflecting on the mortality rate from the disease over the years, the CDC data reveals that there were only three deaths attributed to measles between 2001 and 2024. Essentially, a large majority, approximately 92%, of the reported cases were either those unvaccinated or individuals who hadn’t disclosed their vaccination status.
West Texas has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak with over 750 cases since late January. However, experts warn that the actual toll could be significantly higher. Simultaneously, the outbreak is slowing its pace in the surrounding states, indicating a gradual containment.
Certain unrelated clusters of cases have cropped up in other regions of the country, typically linked to an unvaccinated individual traveling abroad. Although measles was officially eradicated in the country, sporadic cases have cropped up, with large-scale outbreaks of 50 or more cases becoming increasingly common in the recent years, particularly in smaller, culturally diverse communities having limited access to vaccinations.
Public health experts caution about the potential risk of the U.S. losing its measles elimination status if the linked cluster of cases continues for over twelve months. Pediatrician Eric Ball, who leads the California chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warns that a resurgence in measles could be a precursor to the comeback of other diseases.
The increase in outbreaks is directly linked to the proliferation of misinformation about vaccinations, leading to a loss of trust and an escalating number of unvaccinated individuals. Over time, confidence in public health measures, mainly concerning vaccinations, has seen a marked decrease and is divided along political lines.
Reflecting this decline is the national vaccination rate among kindergarteners for the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. As per CDC data, the compliance rate, a bit above 95% in 2019, has dipped below 93% currently. This alarming trend is visible even in states with high overall vaccination coverage where small clusters of unvaccinated people usually residing together pose a significant health risk.
The highly infectious nature of measles leads to high transmission rates among non-immune individuals, often leading to a spread of the disease even before symptoms become apparent. Recent studies predict a potential exponential increase in measles cases in the U.S. over the next 25 years.
Further compounding the issue is the declining trust in federal health agencies post the coronavirus pandemic. A poll conducted by healthcare think tank KFF revealed that less than half of the participants were confident about these agencies’ ability to fulfill their duties.