One of the most contagious diseases that was previously eradicated more than 20 years ago in the U.S. is threatening a comeback — measles.
As measles cases continue to rise globally, more states are also reporting the disease. On Feb. 12, that number hit 10. The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed two cases of measles in unvaccinated siblings who recently returned from international travel. Arizona’s Maricopa County Department of Public Health also confirmed an international visitor with measles who frequented two public restaurants while contagious.
“Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread quickly through the general public if people are not vaccinated,” Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, infectious diseases specialist and system medical director for quality and patient safety at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana, tells TODAY.com.
Here’s a look at how widespread measles is in the U.S. right now, why experts think it is making a resurgence, the symptoms to watch for and how to know if you are immune.
Measles hits the US in 2024
Measles was declared eradicated from the United States in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program.
“Over the last decade and a half, we saw an irregular but overall increase in the number of cases,” Dr. Linda Yancey, infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas, tells TODAY.com.
The trend stopped abruptly in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit as everyone was isolating and protecting themselves against the virus, she adds. But now, the U.S. is again seeing a rise in cases.
On Jan. 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert to warn the public about growing cases of measles.
The agency confirmed 23 cases from Dec. 1, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2024, including seven cases of international travelers and two outbreaks of more than five cases each, mostly in children and adolescents who had not been vaccinated.
“Worldwide, we are in the midst of a large…
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