Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Year : 2, Issue : 12
The nation’s health agency on Monday warned doctors about an increase in measles cases that in a little more than three months has equalled all of the U.S. cases from last year.
There were 58 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. this year as of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, compared to 58 in all of 2023. In the cases this year, 93% were linked to international travel, the agency said. Most of the cases involved children a year or older who haven’t yet gotten a measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, or MMR.
“Healthcare providers should ensure children are current on routine immunizations, including MMR,” the agency said in an advisory to medical providers. Seventeen states have reported cases this year. In New York, the cases were reported in New York City, the CDC says on its website.
There are also outbreaks in other countries, including Austria and the United Kingdom, so anyone of any age traveling to any international destination should be current on their vaccinations, the agency said in the advisory. Measles is highly contagious and unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of becoming infected if exposed.
Source: NBC New York