National Update on Measles Cases and Outbreaks — United States, January 1–October 1, 2019.
October 5th, 2019Patel M, Lee AD, Clemmons NS, et al. National Update on Measles Cases and Outbreaks — United States, January 1–October 1, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 4 October 2019. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6840e2external icon
Summary
What is already known about this topic?
Measles was eliminated in the United States in 2000. High national coverage with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and rapid implementation of measles control measures prevent widespread measles transmission.
What is added by this report?
- During January–September 2019, 1,249 U.S. measles cases were reported, the highest annual number since 1992.
- Eighty-nine percent of measles patients were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, and 10% were hospitalized.
- Eighty-six percent of cases were associated with outbreaks in underimmunized, close-knit communities, including two outbreaks in New York Orthodox Jewish communities that threatened measles elimination status in the United States.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Ensuring high rates of measles immunization in all communities is critical to sustaining measles elimination.