CDC Measles information & health alert
There have been more cases of measles in the US in the first 3 months of 2024 than all of 2023. 93% of them are from international travel. There are NO cases in Massachusetts (as of this notification).
CDC is strongly encouraging travelers to get vaccinated prior to travel, and providers to be aware of measles among patients with recent travel history.
CDC tracks and posts measles cases and outbreaks in the United States and globally. The worst year in recent decades for measles outbreaks was 2019, where cases that travelled introduced measles into an un- or under-immunized group and the disease spread rapidly. There are measles outbreaks emerging across the world, with popular travel destinations for Americans like the UK and Europe seeing increasing numbers of cases.
Measles is the most contagious disease we face in public health. 9 out of 10 susceptible contacts will get infected. It lingers in the air for 2 hours after the infected person leaves a room. Contact tracing is massive. See the Clark County, WA 20139 outbreak website for a picture of what a public health response to a measles outbreak entails.
Measles is also dangerous and potentially deadly, especially for children. At least 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States who contract measles is hospitalized. Nearly 1 out of 20 children develop pneumonia, the most frequent cause of measles-related death in young children. Approximately 1 child out of every 1,000 with measles will suffer brain injury potentially causing convulsions, deafness, or intellectual disability. For unvaccinated babies who contract measles, 1 in 600 can develop a fatal neurological complication.
2 doses of measles vaccine such as the MMR vaccine is immunizing. If someone has a history of measles infection, they are also considered immune.
Here are several recently updated materials:
- CDC issued a new Health Alert to providers on the risk of measles especially among travelers.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a one-page handout to guide for recognizing the signs of suspected measles.
- CDC recently posted a new bulletin providing a domestic and international overview of measles with key information on how to eliminate measles in the country.
- CDC’s Measles Talking Points for Partners document provides guidance for the public, healthcare professionals, and state and health departments.
- A recent CDC MMWR was able to show that two families with no contact but who lived in the same apartment building transmitted measles: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7310a3.htm.
Measles is immediately notifiable to public health even if suspected, not confirmed. Please call the MA DPH epidemiology 24/7 number at (617) 983-6800 or the Chilmark Health Department at 508-645-2105.