Preventable diseasesExperts urge vaccination as U.S. measles cases top 1,000

Published 6 June 2019

Federal officials yesterday said U.S. measles cases have reached 1,001, the first time since 1992 that cases have been in quadruple figures, while experts continued to urge vaccination and underscored the safety of the vaccine.

Federal officials yesterday said U.S. measles cases have reached 1,001, the first time since 1992 that cases have been in quadruple figures, while experts continued to urge vaccination and underscored the safety of the vaccine.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said in an HHS news release, “We cannot say this enough: Vaccines are a safe and highly effective public health tool that can prevent this disease and end the current outbreak.”

He added, “The Department of Health and Human Services has been deeply engaged in promoting the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, amid concerning signs that there are pockets of undervaccination around the country. The 1,000th case of a preventable disease like measles is a troubling reminder of how important that work is to the public health of the nation.”

“The measles vaccine is among the most-studied medical products we have and is given safely to millions of children and adults each year,” Azar said. “Measles is an incredibly contagious and dangerous disease.”

HHS said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken several steps to tamp down cases, including those in 10 separate ongoing outbreaks across the country. The largest of these is occurring in New York City, with 566 cases as of Jun 3. In addition, Rockland County, New York, has confirmed 256 cases as of yesterday.

CIDRAP reports that among the response measures the CDC has implemented are a measles Incident Management Structure within its National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, resources for physicians, and outreach to rabbinical, camp, and medical associations to help spread clear and consistent messages. The agency has also deployed a field team to Rockland County.

HHS said the CDC has identified more than 1,500 people exposed to measles during airline travel. Measles was declared officially eradicated in 2000, but the CDC said last week that the country may now be in danger of losing that status.