Breaking News - there is a new measles case in Philadelphia, bringing the total in that outbreak to nine. (see below)
We are starting 2024 with ongoing measles outbreaks in Philadelphia and Washington.
After seeing a record high and low number of measles cases in the United States in the last few years, what can we expect in 2024, as measles epidemics are once again being reported around the world and travel restrictions have loosened??
2024 Measles Outbreaks
Unfortunately, it looks like we will see more measles...
So far, we have seen:
- an additional three cases in an unvaccinated family in Clark and Wahkiakum counties in Washington, bringing the total number of cases in this outbreak to 6 (December 2023-January 2024)
- a 'cluster of measles among unvaccinated residents' in Philadelphia that increased after an infected person broke quarantine and was sent to daycare, getting at least eight more people sick, including at least 3 that required hospitalization and a linked case in Delaware (December 2023-January 2024)
- a confirmed case in a person who traveled through Northern Virginia when returning from international travel (January 2024)
- a confirmed case of measles in a Liberty, Missouri resident with exposures in Kansas City (January 2024)
- a confirmed case in Camden County, New Jersey with unknown source and exposures at a daycare center (January 2023)
What's next?
Unfortunately, I think we can expect more measles...
Interestingly, unlike most years, lately we have been seeing more indigenous than imported cases!
"Two cases of measles have been confirmed in Texas this year, both in non-school-aged children. The first case was diagnosed in June in a resident of Hood County. The second was diagnosed in August in a resident of McCulloch County. Neither has a history of travel to an area where measles is spreading, and no other risk factors for exposure were identified."
Health Alert: Confirmed Case of Measles - August 2023
Where are all of these indigenous cases coming from?
Are there more cases than haven't been reported?
Are we going to start seeing more cases, especially as we are seeing more international outbreaks?
Less travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic had kept measles cases low in the United States, but unless folks get vaccinated and protected, they will rise as travel restrictions have eased.
Are you vaccinated and protected with two doses of MMR?
More on the 2024 Measles Outbreaks:
- The Next COVID-19 Wave Might Not Be COVID-19
- How Contagious Is Measles?
- Why Are You Still Worried About the MMR Vaccine?
- What to Do If Your Child Is Exposed to Measles
- Can MMR Shedding Start a Measles Outbreak?
- A History of Measles Outbreaks in the United States
- When Was the Last Measles Death in the United States?
- Costs of a Measles Outbreak
- CDC – Measles Cases and Outbreaks
- Measles – Timeline | History of Vaccine
- Ask the Experts about MMR
- UNICEF and WHO warn of perfect storm of conditions for measles outbreaks, affecting children
- Health department cautions Philadelphians about recent measles cases
