The US has seen more than 1,100 measles cases this year already. It’s a scary number that’s got people worried about what’s coming next.
Out of every 1,000 kids who catch measles, one might get a serious brain swelling. Up to three could even die from it.
This year is shaping up to be another bad one for measles. In the first eight weeks alone, over 1,100 cases were reported – that’s six times more than what’s normal for a whole year.
It’s really disappointing because there’s a safe vaccine that works great against measles and its nasty side effects.
Measles is no joke – it can hit any healthy kid hard.
But almost all the cases so far – about 96% – are in people who aren’t fully vaccinated. Over 80% are in kids and teens, with one in four under age five.
Last year, there were nearly 2,300 cases – the most in over 30 years, way more than any year since it was thought to be gone in 2000.
Three people died last year: two kids and one adult, all unvaccinated.
That’s about the expected rate of one to three deaths per 1,000 cases. So yeah, more deaths are likely on the way.
It’s heartbreaking. When folks skip vaccines, you get more sickness, more hospital stays, and more deaths. Kids are dying from something that’s totally preventable because parents are more scared of the vaccine than the disease itself.
More than half the states have had cases this year, with at least three big outbreaks still growing.
A huge outbreak up in one area has racked up at least 985 cases since October.
It’s in a spot where not many people are vaccinated. Almost all cases over 93% are in unvaccinated folks.
No deaths yet, but there have been bad complications like lung infections and brain issues that can cause deafness or other long-term problems. Some pregnant women needed special treatment after getting exposed.
Nearly 17,000 vaccines were given out in January, even using mobile units to reach more people.
These steps are to cut down on spread and keep everyone safe, especially in busy spots like hospitals.
New cases have slowed down lately down to under two dozen last week from a peak of nearly 250 in mid-January.
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This slowdown came a bit earlier than expected, thanks to quick work spotting cases, warning people, and getting folks quarantined.
Boosting vaccinations has helped too. January was one of the best months for shots in years. But there’s still more to do to get everyone covered.
The outbreak isn’t over, there are still pockets of people who aren’t protected, which could keep it going.
Staff are working hard on tracking contacts and managing data.
They’re also getting extra help to analyze everything and learn how to stop it better.
And measles is still spreading strong in other areas.
Cases have popped up in several states linked to this outbreak, like some with 23 cases since December – more than five times what they’ve seen in the last decade.
Outbreaks in other regions are ongoing too, with hundreds of cases since summer in some spots.
A newer one along the coast has exploded to at least 83 cases in the past month.
It’s centered around a college in a close community. Most cases seem to be students, but details on ages or vaccination status aren’t out there.
While kids make up most recent cases, adults can get hit just as hard or worse, especially with lung problems.
The older you are when you catch it, the tougher it can be.
Vaccine doubts have grown, putting more young kids at risk.
Measles is a tough virus.
Talk to your doctor about it the one who knows you and your family best. Have that chat and really listen.
It was thought to be eliminated back in 2000, but ongoing spread is putting that at risk. There might be a decision soon on whether that status holds.