United States: The number of measles cases in certain states of the United States has been witnessing a surge. The states that are largely affected by the disease are reportedly Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia, according to the details shared by local health departments.

Emphasizing the major cause of such high infection rates, some of the experts mentioned that cross-border travel and low vaccination rates are probably the reasons.

Abrupt Spike in Cases in the US!

A spokesperson for the health department – James Garrow, outlined that the Philadelphia Health Department has confirmed that nine (9) individuals have been reportedly infected with the disease, as per the reports by CNN Health. It is to be noted that the first-ever case was registered after a person contracted the virus during international travel; this was followed by exposure in a Philadelphia daycare – which infected five children.

In addition to this, the Georgia Department of Public Health has also confirmed a case associated with measles in “an unvaccinated resident of the metro Atlanta area.”

Following the case was registered, the health department shared a news release, which read, “The individual was exposed to measles while traveling out of the country. DPH is working to identify anyone who may have had contact with the individual while they were infectious,” according to CNN reports.

Does the highly contagious virus affect only the US?

It is to be noted that not just the United States has been affected by measles; the United Kingdom has also been facing an outbreak. As per the health authority of the UK, as many as 216 confirmed cases have been reported, along with 103 probable cases, since October.

Following such an upsurge, a national incident was announced by the UK Health Security Agency, signaling the growing health risk among the general public.

The concern was addressed by a professor of pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine – Dr Thomas Murray, who said, “It’s always concerning when we have a case of measles because of the probability that it’s going to spread to other individuals.”

Murray, who is a specialist in infectious diseases, further said, “About 90% of susceptible people who are exposed will come down with signs and symptoms of the disease, so it’s very contagious.”

Why a sudden spike in cases? 

According to the data shared by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus was eliminated from the United States in 2000. During the year, the nation reported zero measles cases; the major reason behind the same was a “highly effective vaccination campaign,” as per CNN Health.

However, health authorities have mentioned that there was always a possibility that measles could come back to the United States (US) as it had not been eliminated from the world.

While emphasizing vaccination and its rates, Murray mentioned, “Many of the diseases for which we have vaccines have virtually disappeared from the United States but certainly not in other places around the world,” according to CNN reports.

He emphasized that an unvaccinated person can become sick from measles if he visits a place where the infection is common. The virus could come back to the United States, he further added.

He was quoted saying, “There’s a lot of travel back and forth. If there are pockets of unvaccinated individuals that are congregating closely together and that disease gets introduced into that population, you can have large clusters of cases.”