I consider America to be a very hospitable place, which is why I'm thrilled to see the US welcoming measles back into the country after 20
years of banishment. Good to have you back measles! You've been missed.
Plus, I think the red splotches all over your body make for
a bold fashion statement.
Ok but seriously, let’s talk about this recent resurgence of
measles. Measles is an infectious virus that usually manifests as a red, itchy
rash 8-12 days after exposure [8,9]. It is highly contagious, can be spread
through coughing and sneezing, and will remain alive for up to two hours
outside the body [8,9]. It’s a nasty little bugger and complications can
include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia (infection of the lungs), encephalitis
(swelling of the brain), seizures, and death [7].
Measles was declared eliminated back in 2000 within US
borders by the CDC [1]. By 2002, it had been eliminated in North and South
America [1]. Elimination of infections is defined as “reduction to zero…the
incidence of infection caused by a specific agent in a defined geographical
area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued measures to prevent
re-establishment of transmission are required” [2]. In the US, the overall measles
incidence remained less than 1 case per 1,000,000 people from 1997 through 2013
[3]. Of the cases reported, 65% were in unvaccinated patients and 20% had an
unknown vaccination status [3]. In all likelihood, the measles occurrences in
the unvaccinated patients probably came from the 6 to 11 month (4.1 cases per 1,000,000)
and 12 to 15 month age groups (3.6 cases per 1,000,000), as children younger
than 12 cannot get the vaccination while others are delayed in their
vaccination schedules [3,4]. Don't freak out over these unvaccinated infants
getting infected from parents that refuse to give their kids the MMR vaccine.
Remember, these numbers are from when measles was still classified as
eliminated. The effects of vaccinophobia did not manifest via increased measles
cases until 2014.
