We're only seven months into 2014 and measles cases across the United States have reached a 20-year high - the last nationwide outbreak of this size occurred in the first five months of 1994. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging parents to get themselves and their children vaccinated.
From January 1 to July 11, there have been a total of 566 documented measles cases, with 18 outbreaks accounting for 89% of the cases. States that have reported measles cases include: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington. The next highest number of cases this decade was recorded in 2011, with just over 200.
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus that normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs. Its transmission rate is very high among those who are not immune to it. The majority of people who are sickened with measles are not vaccinated, which is why the CDC and other health experts are strongly advocating for parents to get their children vaccinated - a trend that has seemingly decreased dramatically.
Central Ohio experienced the biggest measles outbreak in the country this year, amassing a total of 368 cases and ten hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The patients infected with the virus ranged from six months old to 53 years old, revealing that people of all ages need a vaccine to avoid catching measles. Additionally, the Washington State Department of Health reported the most measles cases in 2014 in the past 18 years. Washington and California have also experienced outbreaks of pertussis, or whooping cough, which is also treated with a vaccine.
The World Health Organization sheds some light on the prevalence of measles worldwide and the severity of the virus. It's one of the leading causes of death among young children throughout the world (it's still prevalent in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and parts of Europe), resulting in 122,000 deaths globally in 2012. The number is still that high even after the measles vaccination caused a 78% drop in cases across the world between 2000 and 2012.
These sobering statistics should be enough to coax a parent into getting themselves re-vaccinated (if needed) as well as getting their children vaccinated at the proper ages. Vaccinations for a number of other diseases are essential as well, including meningitis, mumps, tetanus, chicken pox (which can turn into shingles), and others. If people continue to pass on their vaccinations, then a number of diseases will become more widespread, further costs will be incurred upon the health care system, and the country's well-being will be at stake.
You can read more about measles in the United States on the CDC Measles page.
