Measles Outbreak In The US: Country Reports Highest Ever Cases In Last Many Decades

The United States is currently witnessing a surge in cases of measles, and the country is dealing with an unprecedented rise in this disease in the last few decades.

Measles cases in the United States have hit the highest point since the time the country eliminated the disease back in 2000. To date, the country has reported a total of 1,277 cases since the beginning of the current year, according to data provided by the State Health Department.

Measles Makes A Comeback In The United States- Death Recorded

What makes the situation an even grave concern is that earlier this year, the country also noted its first measles linked death for the first time in almost a decade. Measles once seemed to be a reality that was long gone for the United States, as the disease had been considered eliminated for the last 25 years, due to its absence from the country and no long-term impact, if ever any of the cases were discovered. It never spread for a year-long period

Elimination of the disease doesn’t mean that there are no periodic outbreaks, as some of the cases of measles have continued to be reported in the United States from time and again. The rate of vaccination has significantly increased, and taking that into consideration, the centre of the outbreak is distinctly low.

Accounting for the academic session 2023-24, 82% of the kindergarten kids in the US were administered with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) vaccine, far below the 95% rate needed to curb the spread.

The Regions Under Threat

Dr. David Sugerman, a senior scientist at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said at one of the advisory committee meetings in April that for the proper elimination of the disease from the country, it would have to keep spreading through January 20th of the coming year. Many of the cases that have been reported so far are the ones that can be linked to the southwest outbreak. It must be noted that the state of Texas alone accounts for more than 700 cases

Not all the outbreaks are native to the US, but there have been reports of some outbreaks being prompted by international travel. The sudden appearance of this disease can be linked to several factors, the decline ok vaccination rate in the country and the world at large and negligence stands at the top of the list.

What Is Measles

Measles is one of the contagious health conditions that is also known as rubeola. It is a highly contagious viral illness that can be highlighted by some significant markers like fever, cough, runny nose, and a particular type of rash.

Measles is caused by a virus that is contagious, which means that it can spread easily through the air and can end up leading to some serious complications that may manifest as pneumonia and brain inflammation.

Fortunately, measles can be prevented through vaccination with the MMR vaccine

What are the symptoms of Measles

The initial symptoms can include fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and a runny nose.
One of the most common highlights of measles is a red, blotchy rash that first begins on the face and then ends up spreading down the body.
There can be other symptoms too, like a sore throat, muscle pain, and being sensitive to light. In a rare scenario, small white spots inside the mouth can also appear.

Measles is a serious health condition that can be controlled, as some vaccinations are available. There is no specific type of medication for the disease, but other parallel things like hydration, taking proper rest, consuming Vitamin A, and managing fever can help bring down the severity of measles.