The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has said on Thursday that the current search report tells that about 971 measles cases have been recorded in the US in 2019 which is the highest ratio of the entire calendar since 1992 which reported about 963 cases. This ratio declares that the disease is growing rapidly affecting more people for the last five months.
The United States authorities said if the current outbreaks continue, the US may risk losing its measles “Elimination Status”
What is Measles?
Measles is a very transferrable disease which is caused by a virus. The virus is spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The disease usually starts with a fever and it then causes a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. And after that, a rash of tiny, red spots appear which begins at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.
The Measles was eliminated in 2000 in the US and a goal with the introduction of the vaccine against the disease was set in 1966.
Authorities declared measles eliminated in the US in 2000, a goal set in 1966 with the introduction of the vaccine. Moreover, the CDC says that elimination of the disease is considered when a continuous absence of its transmission is observed for about 12 months or more depending on the geographic regions.
However, a new ongoing outbreak that began last fall in the New York City and its surroundings is continuously threatening the “Elimination Status” of the US.
And the US would not be able to state that it possesses “Eliminated Status” if it progresses till four upcoming months.
The disease can be prevented with the MMR vaccine which is very safe and effective. One dose of the vaccine is affected at about 93% and two doses are affected to about 97%.
The CDC director Robert Redfield has stated in this regard: “Measles is preventable and the way to end this outbreak is to ensure that all children and adults who can get vaccinated, do get vaccinated.”
“Again, I want to reassure parents that vaccines are safe, they do not cause autism. The greater danger is the disease that vaccination prevents,” he added.
The residents of the affected areas of New York City had been requested to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccination campaigns had already been started working in the US by the month of April.
Although the Vaccination Campaigns are working there in the city but still 173 cases in April and 60 cases in May had been reported.
The disease in the US is affecting the people of Amish communities in a greater number in Ohio.
The ratio of victims in 2014 outbreak was recorded as 667 cases and it is considered that the number has kept fluctuating between a few dozen and a few hundred cases per year since 2000. Hence, there has never been recorded as zero Measles cases in the US.
The reports have told that there is a high possibility that the infection had been brought back to the country through the affected travelers returning from the abroad, originating from the Philippines, Israel, and Ukraine. The same situation had occurred last year when an increase in the cases was reported all over the country.