New York City's Measles Outbreak May Expand

A research letter recently published by The NEJM assessed the serostatus of asylum seekers in New York City.

On November 20, 2024, the researchers disclosed that about 27% of the participants in a study were seronegative for measles. This data indicates these people did not have protective antibodies against this highly contagious disease.

As of late November 2024, the U.S. CDC reported eight imported and six locally-acquired measles cases have been reported in New York City this year.

Nationwide, the CDC reported 277 measles cases in 32 jurisdictions as of November 7, 2024. Measles outbreaks have been declared in sixteen areas this year.

If one person has measles, up to 90% of people around them will also get it if they are unvaccinated or otherwise not immune.

'Anyone who has received two doses of a measles vaccine is considered immune for life and unlikely to get measles,' wrote NYC Health.

Since measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, most pharmacies in New York offer measles vaccination services. Call 311 for information on where you or your child can get vaccinated.

While the CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory focused on New York City, the U.K. says travelers to the U.S. should be up to date with routine vaccinations, including the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.