The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to healthcare providers, urging them to remain on high alert for measles cases amidst a concerning uptick in infections since December. According to an email sent by the CDC this week, there have been 23 confirmed cases of measles between December 1, 2023, and January 23, 2024.

Of these cases, seven were reported in international travelers, while two outbreaks each involved five or more infections. Alarming statistics show that most of the cases were found among children and adolescents who had not received the measles vaccine, despite being eligible.

The CDC attributes the increase in measles cases to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Americans traveling internationally, contracting the disease, and subsequently spreading it to others who are yet to be immunized upon their return. The federal health agency has described the rise in cases as a "growing global threat," which mirrors the worldwide surge in measles infections.

In light of these recent developments, the CDC has advised healthcare providers to pay close attention to patients with febrile rash illness, along with symptoms consistent with measles such as cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis, particularly if they have traveled abroad, especially to countries experiencing ongoing measles outbreaks.

In the event that a patient is suspected of having measles, the CDC recommends immediate isolation for at least four days from symptom onset, while notifying local or state health departments. Testing should be conducted, and post-exposure prophylaxis must be provided to close contacts. Additionally, individuals who have not received their measles vaccinations should be promptly immunized.

Measles, a highly contagious disease, poses a significant risk, with the CDC highlighting that each infected individual can spread the virus to up to 10 close contacts if they remain unprotected by measures such as wearing masks or being vaccinated.

Complications arising from measles can range from relatively mild, such as rashes, to more severe conditions like viral sepsis, pneumonia, or brain swelling. The CDC stresses that those who have had measles previously or have received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are protected against measles. One dose of the vaccine is approximately 93% effective in preventing infection if exposed to the virus, while two doses increase effectiveness to 97%.

It is worth noting that measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, thanks to a successful vaccination campaign. However, recent years have witnessed outbreaks in pockets of the country where vaccination rates are low. In Ohio, between November 2022 and February 2023, 85 children fell ill with measles, with 80 of those cases being unvaccinated. Similarly, an outbreak occurred in California between December 2014 and February 2015 when an unidentified person with measles visited Disneyland, resulting in 125 infections.

The CDC's call for increased vigilance and prompt action aims to curb the spread of measles and protect vulnerable populations from its potentially grave consequences.