United States: As measles is approaching a resurgence again, doctors in the health sector must raise their concern about the identification of the signs related to it as more unvaccinated people travel and possibly get this disease from a country that is suffering a high prevalence of this disease and then gives it to unvaccinated persons around here. California state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan explained all of these on Tuesday.
Measles reappear in the United States
Despite the fact that the US was able to declare measles eliminated in 2000, still, there have still been some large outbreaks that took place in the past decade following the fluctuations of vaccination rates in the world such as the 2014 Disneyland outbreak with 125 cases which was mostly linked to a failure to vaccinate, reported San Francisco Chronicle.
In 2019, California had 72 measles cases, which at the time was the highest number of cases compared to other years.
Cases also went down during the COVID-19 pandemic showing that there was no case in 2021 and 2022, however, 4 cases were confirmed in 2023 according to state data.
Through the first week of February, there have only been two cases reported, one in the southern part of the state called San Diego and one in the metropolis of Los Angeles.
Pan said during a monthly public health briefing with the California Medical Association, “Now we’re slowly starting to see increases again as we see more traveling, and sadly, less vaccination globally and in pockets in the US,” reported San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on January 23, reminded healthcare providers that 23 cases of measles had been confirmed in the US from December 1 to January 23.
These were seven cases of “direct importations” owing to international travel in addition to two large outbreaks with at least 5 or more people affected.
Most cases of measles appear in children
Most of the cases were among children and adolescents who had not received the MMR shot for no apparent reason even if they were eligible for it, CDC stated.
Causes of rise in measles cases
The CDC stated, “Measles cases often originate from unvaccinated or under-vaccinated U.S. residents who travel internationally and then transmit the disease to people who are not vaccinated against measles,”
It added further, “The increased number of measles importations seen in recent weeks is reflective of a rise in global measles cases and a growing global threat from the disease,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Pan said, “I really want clinicians to be thinking about measles … (and) reminding people measles can be serious.”
Symptoms of Measles
Measles ranks high on the list of the most characteristically infectious diseases of children. The appearance of these symptoms includes fever, a winch followed by coughing, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and pink eye, pinking of rash.
Infected persons are contagious starting from about four days before the rash shows up to four days after the rash disappears according to the state public health department.
The disease can also cause serious complications: About 1 out of every 5 people who did not get vaccinated and had measles ended up in the hospital, whereas about 1 out of 1,000 children with measles will end up with encephalitis or having swelling in their brain, according to the CDC.
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