The US measles picture grew by 23 cases this week, according to today's update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A total of 1,024 confirmed measle cases have been reported from 31 jurisdictions, with 14 outbreaks (defined as 3 or more related cases). Ninety-two percent of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated.
Of the cases, 96% have occurred in people who are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, and 128 (13%) of case-patients have been hospitalized, including 69 children under the age of 5. Three deaths have been confirmed to date, including two in unvaccinated school-aged children.
Texas has 718 cases
Texas remains the focal point of the US outbreak, with 718 cases stemming from an outbreak that began in January in Gaines County in the western part of the state. Today's update from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) shows 1 new case since May 13.
In addition to Gaines County, which has reported 406 cases, DSHS has designated Cochran, Dawson, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum counties as outbreak counties. A total of 32 counties have reported cases. Of the 718 measles cases in Texas, 688 (96%) have unvaccinated/unknown status. Ninety-three case-patients (13%) have been hospitalized.
DSHS continues to emphasize the importance of vaccination.
"The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine," the department said in the update. "Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles."
In neighboring New Mexico, the case count rose by 2 to 74, according to the latest numbers from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDH). Yesterday, NMDH confirmed the first two cases in Sandoval County, in an unvaccinated child under 4 years old and an adult with unknown immunization status. Sixty-five of the state's cases have been in Lea County, which borders Gaines County, Texas, with four other New Mexico counties affected.
Also yesterday, the New Jersey Department of Health notified state residents and travelers about a potential measles exposure earlier this week at Newark Liberty International Airport. Department officials said the exposure was associated with a non–New Jersey resident who visited the state while infectious. The infected person was at the airport on May 12.
Kennedy defends outbreak response
The country appears to be on track to surpass the 1,294 measles cases reported in 2019, which to date marks the worst year for measles in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. But Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told members of Congress this week that he believes the situation is much better than in other countries.
"We are doing a better job at CDC today than any other nation at controlling this measles outbreak," Kennedy told the House Appropriations Committee on May 14, arguing that Mexico and Canada are both seeing bigger outbreaks than the United States.
As of today, Canada has reported 1,846 confirmed cases, primarily stemming from an outbreak in Ontario. Mexico's Chihuahua state, the country's hot spot, has 1,306 confirmed cases.
But Kennedy declined to give a full-throated endorsement of the MMR vaccine. While he did say vaccination was the best way to protect children against measles, he defended claims he's made about the safety, efficacy, and composition of the vaccine and said he wants people to know all the risks and benefits. He also suggested he's not in a position to advise people to get vaccinated.
"I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me," he said.
The CDC notes on its measles outbreak page that one the reasons for more measles activity is because MMR coverage among kindergartners is now below 95%—the level needed to maintain elimination status. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is about 93% effective.
