140% Increase in Measles Cases Confirmed

The International Journal of Infectious Diseases recently published a new study conducted by Columbia University that revealed a 140% surge in measles cases worldwide from 2010 to 2019 across 194 member countries of the World Health Organization.

In a Short Communication dated July 22, 2024, the researchers highlighted that decreasing vaccination rates in 59 of the 194 nations were attributed to socio-economic issues in some less developed countries and vaccine hesitancy in wealthier nations.

In July 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed the top ten international measles outbreaks led by Azerbaijan,    Kazakhstan, Iraq, and India. In total, the CDC listed 52 countries.

"Our analysis also suggests vaccine hesitancy may substantially contribute to the recent increases in measles incidence in wealthier countries. For instance, recent measles outbreaks in Europe and the United States have been linked to international travel and communities with prevailing vaccine skepticism,' wrote these researchers.

As of July 11, 2024, a total of 167 measles cases were reported by Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The CDC reports 13 measles outbreaks in 2024, compared to 4 outbreaks reported in 2023.

Various U.S. FDA-approved measles vaccines are generally available at pharmacies in the United States.