The US measles total grew by 22 more cases this week, a slowing pace but similar to the week before, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest update.
So far, 1,046 cases have been reported from 31 jurisdictions, and 92% of the nation’s cases are part of outbreaks, which remain at 14. The country remains on pace to pass the record 1,274 cases reported in 2019, which was the most reported since the disease was eliminated in the United States in 2000.
Of the people infected, 96% were unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
New cases in Texas, New Mexico
A large outbreak centered in West Texas remains the focus of the outbreak, and the pace of new detections there continues to trend downward. The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) today reported six more cases since its last update on May 20, pushing the state’s outbreak total to 728, mostly from Gaines County.
The state has also reported 22 cases that don’t appear to be linked to the West Texas outbreak, though the TDSHS said it would move any infections with links to West Texas to the outbreak total.
In a related development, Williamson County reported its first case, which involves a school-age child from Leander, Texas, who is recovering at home in isolation. Officials said they have limited knowledge about the child’s immunization or travel history, because the family has chosen not to share details with health officials. Williamson County is considered part of the Austin metropolitan area.
A few other states in the region have also reported cases linked to measles activity in West Texas, and today the New Mexico Department of Health reported 4 more cases, putting its total at 78.
Cases also in Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota
Elsewhere, the Anchorage Health Department said it was notified of a measles case involving an unvaccinated minor. The investigation is ongoing, and health officials said there is a risk of wider exposure, given that the patient was at three public locations while infectious, including a sports and exercise center and a large retail store.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an alert about potential exposure at Denver International Airport after it learned of an illness in an out-of-state traveler who traveled in and out of the airport, and stayed at a nearby hotel, while infectious.
Elsewhere, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has reported 4 more cases, raising the state’s total to 19 from two different counties, Williams in the west and Cass in the east.
