US Measles Cases Top 4,000, CDC Reports Infections In 45 States – iHeart

US Measles Cases Top 4,000, CDC Reports Infections In 45 States  iHeart

US measles cases have climbed above 4,000 this year, with outbreaks in 45 states and Washington, D.C. Experts link the surge to falling vaccination rates, warning that herd immunity is at risk and urging parents to get children fully vaccinated. Measles infections in the United States have surged past 4,000 cases so far this year, with confirmed outbreaks in 45 states and Washington, D.C., according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. The CDC’s update, released Friday (October 9), marks the highest annual total in decades and raises concerns about the country’s declining vaccination rates and the risk of losing the nation’s measles elimination status. Most of the 4,080 reported cases are concentrated in states experiencing ongoing outbreaks, including South Carolina, Arizona, California, Florida, and several others.

According to the CDC, South Carolina is facing the largest outbreak seen in recent memory, with more than 600 cases. The CDC also reports that 18 of this year’s cases have been among international visitors to the United States. The majority of those infected are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. As noted by Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former head of the CDC’s division tracking measles and other diseases, "Because it's such an infectious virus, whenever you see measles outbreaks, it in effect, highlights areas of the country or communities