Measles Cases Surge in the U.S. with 41 Reported Across 16 States
Measles cases are on the rise in the United States, with at least 41 cases reported across 16 states so far this year, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks a significant increase from the 35 cases reported in 15 states as of February 22. The inclusion of Michigan in the CDC’s tally is a cause for concern, as it indicates one of the steepest increases in recent history for this time of year. Experts fear that the country could be facing a repeat of the massive surge in measles cases seen in 2019, which threatened the U.S.’s status of having eliminated the virus.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, head of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, expressed his concern about the current trajectory of measles cases. He emphasized that measles is a preventable disease through safe and effective vaccines, and warned that communities with low vaccination coverage are at the greatest risk.
Federal officials have been increasingly alarmed by the rise in measles cases, particularly as vaccination coverage has declined in many parts of the country. The CDC has been actively supporting investigators in Florida, which has reported the highest number of infections this year. The agency is offering genotype sequencing from its laboratory to help trace links between cases. It is crucial to understand that measles is a global issue, and as the disease continues to increase in other parts of the world, importations into countries with low vaccination coverage pose a significant risk for larger outbreaks.
The following states have reported measles cases in 2024: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Pennsylvania was among the first states to report cases this year, with an outbreak that began in 2023. However, authorities announced on February 27 that the outbreak was officially over. New Jersey also confirmed a case of measles in a resident of a county bordering Philadelphia, but officials were unable to find a direct link to the outbreak or another route of exposure.
Missouri’s Clay County reported a measles case in a resident who had traveled through Kansas City International Airport. Virginia and Maryland each reported a case in residents who had recently traveled through Dulles International Airport. Georgia reported a case in a resident who had returned from a trip in the Middle East, and a second case was later confirmed in an unvaccinated family member. New York City reported two cases of measles in residents who had traveled internationally, with no direct connection between the cases. California has also reported two cases, one in Los Angeles County following a flight from Istanbul, and the other in San Diego after international travel.
Ohio has confirmed at least four cases, with the first case announced in the Dayton area by authorities in Montgomery County. Two more infections were later confirmed in nearby Miami County, and a fourth case was reported in Richland County near Cincinnati, which has not been linked to the other cases. Minnesota announced a case linked to international travel in Dakota County, near Minneapolis, and two more infections in a sibling and cousin of the original case. Arizona’s Maricopa County confirmed a case after international travel, with two more infections linked to the original case. Florida has reported the highest number of cases so far this year, with at least seven elementary school students infected at a school in Broward County. Two more cases were reported in the same county, and another travel-related case was announced in Polk County. Louisiana, Washington’s Spokane County, Indiana’s Lake County, and Michigan’s Oakland County have also reported individual cases.
The increase in measles cases in 2024 can be attributed to the global rise in measles outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified large or disruptive outbreaks in countries across the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and Asia. This has led to an increase in the number of unvaccinated travelers who are exposed to the virus and bring it back to the U.S. Natasha Crowcroft, the WHO’s senior technical adviser for measles and rubella, expressed concern about the current situation, comparing it to the lead-up to the 2019 explosion of cases. Efforts to catch up on measles vaccination rates have fallen behind other vaccines, leaving more than half of countries at high risk of outbreaks this year.
European countries that previously had high overall rates of measles vaccinations have experienced new outbreaks due to large immunity gaps among younger children. This is different from previous years when unvaccinated older children and adults were primarily affected. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted immunization programs, leading to a buildup of susceptible children who were not reached by vaccination efforts. Health departments in the U.S. stress the importance of awareness about measles vaccinations before traveling abroad. Travelers to regions such as Africa or Southeast Asia often visit travel clinics to ensure
