CDC warned the United States about the spread of measles. As of writing, health officials are still checking if there's a chance a measles outbreak could happen in the U.S. Recently, the United Kingdom issued UKHSA (U.K. Health Security Agency) declared a national incident because of the spread of measles across the country.
UKHSA Chief Executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries warned that children who get measles could suffer from life-changing complications. Now, a warning was issued by the CDC after it confirmed more than 20 measles cases in the United States.
CDC Warns US About Measles Outbreak After Detecting 23 Cases
A podium with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center on October 5, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first confirmed Ebola virus patient in the United States was staying with family members.
According to The Fortune Well's latest report, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that U.S. health providers should be on the lookout for measles symptoms among their patients. The CDC said that it has been notified of 23 confirmed measles infection cases in the United States.
"Between December 1, 2023, and January 23, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of 23 confirmed U.S. cases of measles," said the health agency via its official COCA email message.
CDC officials said that among these 23 measles cases are two outbreaks with over five cases each, as well as seven direct importations of measles by international travelers.
"Most of these cases were among children and adolescents who had not received a measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV), even if age eligible," added the CDC.
Because of this, the CDC said that healthcare providers in the U.S. should be alert for patients who have the following:
- Travel activities abroad, especially in the U.K. and other countries with ongoing measles outbreaks.
- Suffer from febrile rash illness and symptoms consistent with measles, such as conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough.
Read Also: [UPDATE] Measles Vaccination: UK Surge Prompts Official To Launch Campaign To Protect Millions
What Parents Can Do?
A child gets immunized for measles at the Mair Wais Maidan Health Clinic January 6, 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is planning on vaccinating approximately 860,000 children in the Kabul area during this week long campaign.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype. It can easily spread when an infected individual sneezes, coughs, or just breathes near other people.
Because of this, the CDC said that the best thing parents can do is to get their children vaccinated with MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.
The health agency said that getting two doses of MMR vaccine for kids offers the best protection:
- The first dose at 12-15 months of age
- The second dose at 4-6 years of age
But, when traveling abroad, the CDC said that parents should follow the vaccine recommendations below instead:
- If your baby is 6 through 11 months old, he or she should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before leaving.
- If your child is 12 months of age or older, he or she will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days) before departure.
Related Article: UK Measles Outbreak: UKHSA Declares National Health Incident as Cases Surge! What Should Parents Do?
