Nearly 1,000 cases of measles in US so far this year, CDC says

There have been 971 cases of measles in the United States thus far in 2019, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is the highest number of cases in the United States since 1992 when 963 cases were reported for the whole year. The CDC has been working with state and local health departments to get the ongoing outbreaks under control.

“Measles is preventable and the way to end this outbreak is to ensure that all children and adults who can get vaccinated, do get vaccinated. Again, I want to reassure parents that vaccines are safe, they do not cause autism. The greater danger is the disease the vaccination prevents,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said. “Your decision to vaccinate will protect your family’s health and your community’s well-being. CDC will continue working with public health responders across our nation to bring this outbreak to an end.”

There have been outbreaks in New York City and Rockland County, N.Y., for the past eight months. If they continue through the summer and into the fall, the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status. The United States established a goal to eliminate measles in 1996 and accomplished that in 2000 thanks to the widespread use of a measles vaccine. But now, the disease has returned.

Before the measles vaccine, 3 million to 4 million people contracted the disease each year in the United States. It caused an estimated 400 to 500 deaths and 48,000 hospitalizations.

Misinformation about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness has led to some parents delaying or refusing vaccines. “We have to work to ensure that the information they are receiving to make health decisions for their children is accurate and credible,” the CDC said. “CDC encourages parents with questions about measles vaccine to consult with their child’s pediatrician, who can help them better understand how vaccines can protect their children.

The CDC said everyone six months and older should be protected against measles before traveling internationally. Babies between six months and 11 months old need one dose of measles vaccine, while everyone 12 months and older need two doses.