Measles is a 'growing global threat,' CDC tells doctors in alert message

Enlarge / A baby with measles. CDC

THE Centers For Disease Control And Prevention East putting clinicians on alert about THE growth risk of measles case And epidemics in the middle of A global overvoltage In transmission.

In A sensitization message sent THURSDAY, THE CDC said clinicians has look out For the patients WHO to have A rash accompanied by A fever And other symptoms of measles, as GOOD as the patients WHO to have recently journey has countries with in progress measles epidemics.

Between December 1, 2023, And January 23, 2024, there to have has been 23 confirmed measles case In THE WE, including Seven direct imports by international travelers And two epidemics with more that five case each, THE CDC note. Most of THE case were In not vaccinated children And teenagers.

Measles epidemics In THE WE are typically sets off by not vaccinated Or undervaccinated WE residents WHO take up THE infection abroad And SO, When they back, to transmit THE disease has pockets of their communities that are Also not vaccinated Or undervaccinated.

Worldwide And In THE WE, vaccination rates against measles - via THE measles, mumps, And rubella vaccine (MMR) – have fallen In recent years due has linked to a pandemic health care disturbance And vaccine hesitation powered by misinformation.

"THE increase number of measles imports seen In recent weeks East reflective of A increase In global measles case And A growth global threat Since THE disease," THE CDC sensitization message, title "Stay Alert For Measles Case", read.

According to has data Since THE World Health Organization, THE European region saw A on 40 times increase In measles case In 2023 as compared with with 2022. THE region account on 42,200 measles case last year, compared with with just 941 In 2022.

This week, THE WHO reported A fast escalation of measles case In Kazakhstan (which THE WHO considered part of THE European region). Kazakhstan has checked in THE The highest impact of measles case In THE region, with 13,677 case In 2023. That corresponds has on 639 case by million In THE population. In THE news release Tuesday, Kazakhstan health minister reported that there are "Currently 2,167 children In hospital with measles, 27 of them In A serious state."

THE epidemic East largely stimulated by not vaccinated children WHO lack their routine vaccinations during THE pandemic. Sixty-five percent of THE reported measles case are In children below age 5, THE WHO note. THE country East NOW trying has catch children up on their vaccines has sidewalk THE epidemic.

"Measles East very infectious, but Fortunately, can be Effectively stop through vaccination," WHO Regional Director For Europe, Hans Henry P. Kluge, said In THE news release. "I greet Kazakhstan For THE urgent measures be taken has stop THE propagated of This dangerous illness."

In the meantime, measles East flaring up In a lot other places. Last week, THE UNITED KINGDOM Health Security Agency warned of THE potential For A in progress measles epidemic has propagated. As of January 18, there were 216 confirmed case And 103 likely case In THE West Midlands region Since October 2023. Authorities warned that any of them areas with weak MMR vaccination rates are has risk of A epidemic.

THE vast majority of Americans to have received their MMR vaccines on calendar. In This case, THE two standard, recommended doses are considered 97 percent effective against measles, And THE protection East considered For life. But anybody WHO East not vaccinated Or undervaccinated East has high risk of infection In THE event of A exposure. THE virus can linger In air space For up has two hours After A infected person leaves THE area,