United States: The concerns and worries related to measles have been increasing among the health officials of the United States. Now, after witnessing such huge outbreaks across almost all the states, the nation is at verge to lose its status as a county where the disease has been eliminated.
Reportedly, the United States has been holding the status since 2000, according to reports by The Hill.
The particular concerns have been raised after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that around 15 states of the United States have reported 41 measles-linked cases. According to the reports, there is a chance that the number of cases touched the mark of 58 cases, which were detected in 2023.
Comments by experts!
An infectious disease physician and member of the Infectious Disease Society of America – Sarah Lim stated, “I think the year is not off to a great start. And definitely I think there is concern that this trend will continue and that we will see more cases. It is early, but I think it is cause for concern,” according to the reports by The Hill.
Most of the news about measles cases has been about Florida, where they found 10 cases in two counties. However, there have also been confirmed cases in other states like Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, and Maryland.
Statement by Florida Department of Health
The Florida Department of Health commented on the situation and stated, “While details of epidemiological investigations are confidential, many media outlets are reporting false information and politicizing this outbreak.”
Furthermore, the department highlighted that the vaccination rates among the general public have witnessed a declining trend. However, it also mentioned that the vaccination coverage rate at Manatee Bay Elementary is near 97 percent – where the majority of the measles cases were detected across Florida.
Joseph Ladapo and his dealing with the current outbreak!
Most of the people are paying attention to the COVID cases in Florida schools and how the Florida Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, is dealing with it. Recently, a letter was shared by Ladapo to parents suggesting that if their kids aren’t vaccinated, it might be a good idea to keep them home for three weeks, following the CDC’s advice. But he didn’t make it a strict rule.
Recommendations by CDC:
The CDC suggested that if an individual is not protected against measles, he/she should stay away from others for 21 days after being near someone who might have it. Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz mentioned that Ladapo should be removed from his position after the letter was published by the Florida Surgeon.
In the letter, Ladapo mentioned that many people in the community are already immune to measles. That’s why the state isn’t making unvaccinated students stay home. The U.S. has been able to say it’s gotten rid of measles because a lot of people are vaccinated. But if more outbreaks happen, experts worry that could change.
In this regard, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and associate division chief of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine – Monica Gandhi, stated, “Once you’ve lost that status, it just means that cases are transmitting locally, which they are, not imported. And so we’re already in that status, where we have local transmission, and if it keeps on going up, we have to say it’s not eliminated,” according to the reports by The Hill.
COVID-19 pandemic – a barrier causing vaccine hesitancy
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a barrier and caused vaccination hesitancy among the general public. However, there’s also a chance that more people traveling internally could have increased the problem as people returning from countries where measles is still a risk can initiate the spread of the disease.