There have been numerous cases of measles in the US this year. How protected are you from the disease? And how can you find out? (Image credit: FatCamera/Getty Images)
Hundreds of people have fallen ill with measles in the United States this year, with most cases linked to outbreaks. The largest number of cases are in Texas, which has the highest number of cases.
As of March 13, there were 301 confirmed cases of measles in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are also additional suspected cases in various states that have not yet been confirmed by the CDC.
34% of confirmed measles cases occurred in children under 5 years of age, and 42% occurred in children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years. A total of 17% of cases resulted in hospitalization.
One death has been reported in the outbreaks, while another is under investigation. The first death was an unvaccinated schoolchild in Texas, marking the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015. The second death was reported in New Mexico, but the CDC has not yet completed its own investigation to confirm its connection to the current outbreaks.
The vast majority of confirmed measles cases — 95% — occur in people who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. What’s more, most cases have occurred in Texas, where 279 cases of measles have been reported from late January through March 18, according to the Texas Department of Health Services.
Experts believe the Texas outbreak is likely due to the state’s low vaccination rates. For example, data shows that about 18% of schoolchildren in Gaines County were exempt from at least one vaccination, and the county has reported 191 measles cases. In turn, neighboring counties — Dawson, Yoakum, Terry, and Martin — have reported 11, 11, 36, and 3 cases, respectively.
As measles continues to spread, here's what you need to know about the protection the measles vaccine provides, how long it lasts, and how to test if you're immune to the disease.
How effective is the measles vaccine?
Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, or the MMRV vaccine, which also provides protection against the varicella virus. The CDC recommends that children receive the first dose of the MMR or MMRV vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.
(The MMR vaccine is preferred for protection against measles because it is less likely to cause fever in children. Those who receive the MMR vaccine are also recommended to receive the chickenpox vaccine.)
Unvaccinated older children and adults are also advised to receive two doses of measles vaccine at least 28 days apart.
According to the CDC, one dose of the MMR vaccine prevents measles by 93%, while two doses prevent measles by 97%. The MMRV vaccine provides a similar level of protection against measles.
“This is probably one of the most effective vaccines we have,” Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton in the U.K., told Live Science in an email.
“For example, COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at reducing deaths, but less effective at preventing mild forms of COVID-19,” Head added. The measles vaccine provides high levels of protection against infections of all severity.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, thanks to widespread vaccination against the disease. The CDC defines “elimination” as “the absence of continuous transmission of a disease for 12 months or more in a defined geographic area.” However, measles has not yet been “eradicated” globally, meaning it is still regularly spread to other countries and can be imported into the United States.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
