The number of measles cases in the United States has reached its highest level in 30 years. Measles is a highly contagious disease spread through air by coughing or sneezing, and the United States declared complete eradication of measles in 2000.
On the 10th (local time), major foreign media reported that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the number of confirmed measles cases this year has been tallied at 1,288. This is the worst level since 1992 when there were 2,126 patients, and three deaths have been reported due to measles since the outbreak began in January in the United States.
The decline in vaccination rates is cited as a reason for the outbreak of measles in the United States. According to the CDC, the vaccination rate for measles among kindergarteners for the 2023-2024 school year has dropped to below 93%, which is lower than the 95% vaccination rate during the 2019-2020 school year when the most measles cases occurred since the declaration of eradication in 2000.
In Texas, where the most measles cases have been reported in the United States, the proportion of unvaccinated children is relatively high, particularly in rural areas. Earlier this year, measles virus spread intensively within a Mennonite community in rural Texas, leading to a surge in patient numbers. As of now, there have been 753 confirmed measles cases in Texas alone.
Bloomberg News noted, "As unfounded beliefs that vaccinations are dangerous and unnecessary spread, the percentage of unvaccinated individuals for childhood diseases has increased, leading to frequent outbreaks of measles in the United States," adding that "To prevent the spread of measles, a vaccination rate of 95% is required for the two-dose schedule."
In fact, this year, conspiracy theories regarding the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine have spread in the United States. In April, the Washington Post (WP) cited a survey conducted by the non-profit health organization Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), showing that a majority of U.S. adults have encountered conspiracy theories about the MMR vaccine, and many of them are unable to clearly determine their veracity.
This is largely due to the influence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known as a "vaccine skeptic," who has often downplayed the threat of measles in official statements and has claimed a connection between the measles vaccine and autism. Last month, he dismissed all members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and included critics of vaccines. This committee decides which vaccines for children will be included in insurance coverage.
Concerns about the spread of measles are also growing in countries outside the United States. Bloomberg News reported, "There are worries that global public health authorities may not be able to adequately monitor and respond to the measles threat," and that "The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that without addressing the funding losses caused by the United States' withdrawal under President Donald Trump, the world's largest health network could collapse."