In its latest weekly update today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 30 more measles cases, putting the national total at 1,544, a record high since the United States eliminated the disease in 2000.
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Two more outbreaks were reported, bringing the total to 42. The CDC said 86% of cases are linked to outbreaks, and 92% of patients are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. The number of affected jurisdictions remained the same, at 42.
So far, 21 cases have been reported in international visitors.
Minnesota cases surge, another from Chicago suburbs
In related developments, the Minnesota Department of Health today reported 10 more measles cases, pushing the state’s total for the year to 18. All involve unvaccinated people.
Seven of the cases are within families that had recent domestic travel and three unrelated cases were linked to international travel.
Jessica Hancock-Allen, NP, MPH, director of the infectious disease division at MDH, said in a statement, “We are encouraging families to be aware of symptoms of measles, particularly the rash, and call their health care provider if they notice a rash—especially if their child is unvaccinated and has been exposed to someone with measles or has travelled recently. We are also reminding our health care provider partners to think about measles and ask about travel—domestic or international—and possible exposures if a patient has any symptoms of measles.”
Meanwhile, Cook County Public Health yesterday confirmed its third case, a suburban Cook County adult whose vaccination status is unknown. Health officials said the patient likely contracted the virus from the county’s last reported case, which it announced on September 16. That patient was a 4-year-old child who traveled internationally and may have exposed people at O’Hare International Airport.
Regarding the new case, the health department said exposure may have occurred at an Aldi grocery store in Crestwood on the evening of September 24.