Massive Reports of Measles in the U.S.

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Currently in the US, half of the states are reporting measles cases, with the national total passing 800 cases this year, according to a CNN tally. The majority of cases are located in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, which reached 709 cases Friday, according to state health department updates.

The numbers of these cases are not entirely accurate but are a severe undercount, as many cases are not being reported to health officials. Measles can be mistaken for other diseases with its symptoms, like a red rash or fever. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that at least 85 people have been hospitalized, accounting for 11% of confirmed cases.

Health officials are quickly working on lowering the number of measles cases by increasing vaccinations in under-vaccinated communities. For example, clinics in Lubbock, Texas, have increased their hours to tackle the sudden outbreak. These Lubbock clinics have administered 450 more doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine than typically would have been given by this time of year, Katherine Wells, director of Lubbock Public Health, said this week.

Two doses of the MMR or measles-mumps-rubella vaccines would be around 97% effective in protecting a person from contracting measles. Unfortunately, two unvaccinated children from Texas and another unvaccinated child from New Mexico have died.

Though measles was officially declared to be eradicated in the US, these newly reported measles cases threaten to eliminate the country’s status if the disease rapidly grows. Three cases in Colorado are being investigated to determine their connection to the outbreak. It was discovered that two of the people had travelled to Mexico.

Experts have concluded that many cases in other states can be traced back to international travel.