Why the CDC issued a measles alert, what you need to know

The CDC issues several messages through HAN, with health advisories being the most serious.

This new message encourages people to make sure they are fully immunized against the disease, especially if they plan to travel abroad. Clinicians and public health officials are also urged to educate people about the risk of contracting measles and the potential outcomes.

It comes at a time when measles cases are rising at the fastest rate in several decades. In 2000, measles was declared as being eliminated from the United States. However, in 2019, nearly 1,300 cases were reported in 31 states, all of which occurred while traveling abroad.

So far, 16 cases of measles have been reported in the United States this year, including 14 related to international visits. The CDC estimates that twice as many Americans plan to travel abroad this year compared to last year.

Measles has increased in popular tourist destinations in recent years. India has by far the highest number of cases, with 73,536 reported between November 2022 and June 2023.

Meanwhile, the WHO declared that in January and February this year, the number of cases in Europe had already exceeded that of 2022. Turkey was noted as having a particularly high incidence, while the United Kingdom, Austria and Serbia also experienced an increase in infections.

Engage in activities where there are large crowds, such as visiting museums, tourists attractionsand restaurants, increases a person’s chances of coming into contact with a infected individual.

However, traveling to, from and in areas with high infection rates also poses a risk, said Dr David Bergerboard-certified pediatrician and founder of the health education society Dr. David, MD and private family practice Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care in Tampa, Florida.

“As a result of travels, [people are] on planes and buses for longer periods where an infectious person might be with them in an enclosed space,” Berger told Healthline.

Why measles cases are increasing

Due to the lockdowns and healthcare delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 40 million Around the world, children have missed their first or second measles vaccine, leaving them vulnerable to the disease.

While home orders and social distancing saw measles cases decline significantly in 2020 and 2021 (to 13 and 49 incidences, respectively), the relaxation of these measures allowed transmission of the infection to resume.

Another potential factor involves “increased vaccine hesitancy leading to underimmunization,” said Dr. Michael Changpediatric infectious disease expert with UTHealth Houston and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

experts believe that anti-vaccination messages disseminated via social media likely play a role in reducing vaccination.

Brian LabusPhD, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Public Health, noted that lack of awareness of the disease may also contribute to declining vaccination rates.

“Successful vaccination campaigns mean measles is rare in the United States, and it’s not a disease that people regularly think about,” he told Healthline.

“Success in controlling measles means parents simply don’t have the same sense of urgency to get their children vaccinated as they once did.”

Immunization is vital for preventing measles transmission and eliminating the disease. “A high percentage of vaccination (>94-95%) is needed to maintain population immunity,” Chang told Healthline.

“If even 10% of a population is likely to be infected with measles, an outbreak may occur,” he said.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is given in two doses, usually during infancy.

“It is recommended to have the first measles vaccine at 12-15 months,” said Dr. Ilan Shapiropediatrician and chief health correspondent and medical affairs manager at AltaMed Health Services in Los Angeles.

“The second dose is usually given between ages 4 and 6,” he told Healthline. ” Fill the vaccination schedule is extremely important for building lifelong immunity.

Infants aged 6 to 11 months traveling abroad to an area with measles outbreaks may be offered an earlier first dose of the vaccine.

However, “children who receive a single measles vaccine before 12 months of age will still need to receive their two routine doses on the regular schedule,” Chang explained.

Once you’ve had your two doses, there’s usually no need for further “supplements” later in life.

After two doses, “the vaccine is 97% effective,” Chang said – and its levels of protection remain high for years. He added that 10 to 15 years after full immunization, the risk of infection is still less than 5%.

However, “if you are immunocompromised, your doctor will check to see if two doses of the vaccine provide enough antibody be properly protected against the virus,” Shapiro noted.

Although there are about 20 different genotypes of measles, Berger said, they are considered indistinguishable from each other. “The vaccine therefore covers all circulating measles viruses,” he explained.

As for the potential side effects of vaccination, Chang said the risks are low.

“The most common side effects are pain at the injection site, fever (

Chang said “very, very rarely” fever can be linked to febrile seizures. These seizures can occur in young children with temperatures above 102℉.

However, he continued, “it’s important to remember that febrile seizures are actually more likely if a child gets a measles infection.”

“Measles is the most contagious disease we know of,” Labus said.

An individual with measles can infect 9 out of 10 people who are not protected against the disease, According to the CDC.

Measles infection is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. These droplets are released by actions such as talking, singing and coughing, and “can linger in the air for hours after an infected person leaves the room,” Labus added.

The disease appears symptomatic in about 90% of susceptible children, Chang said. It can take up to two weeks after infection for signs to appear.

Early symptoms resemble those of colds and flu and are similar in adults and children:

• high fever
• Runny nose
• Conjunctivitis
• Cough
• Sore throat

The rash that develops from measles does not appear until 3 to 7 days after these first signs appear.

“It usually starts on the face and hairline as flat red patches and then spreads downward. Sometimes small raised bumps can develop on top of the flat red patches,” Berger revealed.

“Another specific sign of measles is ‘Koplik’s spots,’ which are tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background that are found on the inner lining of the cheek,” he said. added.

If your child has symptoms, it is essential to keep them at home. “It is [also] important to avoid contact with children with viral symptoms, whether or not you know the cause of the symptoms is measles,” Chang said.

In some cases, measles infections can be even more serious, requiring hospitalization and potentially leading to death.

“About one in five unvaccinated people who get measles will need to be hospitalized,” said Dr Danielle Zerrpediatric infectious disease specialist at Seattle Children’s and a member of the Pediatric Pandemic Network.

“Young children, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to have serious complications,” she told Healthline.

These include “pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can lead to hearing loss, blindness or permanent brain damage”.