The Measles Outbreak in the U.S.: A Wake-Up Call for Community Immunity

In recent weeks, 8 U.S. states, from Alaska to New York, have been confronting an unsettling resurgence of measles: a disease once thought nearly eradicated thanks to widespread vaccination efforts. The total U.S. case count is just under 100 with the majority of cases happening in Texas and New Mexico, with roughly 80% of the cases from people under 20 years old. This blog post explores what is happening in these regions, what measles is and why it poses a significant threat, why these outbreaks might be occurring now despite the disease’s previous rarity, and what solutions can help bring case numbers closer to zero.

Expanded vaccination clinics in Gaines County

An Overview of the Current Situation

About 50 cases are concentrated in Gaines County, a rural area right on the border of Texas and New Mexico. Sixteen people have required hospitalization. New Mexico has also reported nine cases in Lea County, which is less than 50 miles away from Gaines County.  Health departments in these areas have ramped up efforts to halt the outbreak by setting up free walk-in vaccination clinics. Cases are popping up across all parts of the nation at a higher rate compared to normal measles rates in the U.S., which usually has no more than 300 cases per year.

What Is Measles and Why Is It Dangerous?

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection known for its distinctive red rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. It spreads rapidly through an infected person’s  coughs or sneezes. Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, more than influenza, polio, and even COVID. Measles high transmissibility rate means that it will spread with an alarming speed if an outbreak occurs in a community with low vaccination rates. 

For most healthy individuals in their young to mid adulthood, measles would probably be  like a routine illness. However, the disease can have severe complications for children, who’s immune systems are still weak and developing. About 1/20 children with measles get pneumonia and about 3/1000 children with measles die from it. There is no cure or treatment for measles, so  the virus will run its course for 10-14 days no matter what. Its severity will depend on immune system strength and vaccination status.

The Reasons Behind the Resurgence

Public health experts attribute this measles outbreak to a decline in vaccination rates in the United States. While all states have some sort of vaccine mandate for children to attend school, exemptions for medical and non-medical reasons vary state by state. In Gaines County, over 13% of K-12 students were exempted from vaccination last year. This is a problem that we are seeing across the nation. 14 states reported rates below 90% for the 2023-2024 school year, compared to only three states in the 2019-2020 school year. In the last year alone, over 30 states experienced declines in vaccination rates across all state required vaccines. 39 states had MMR vaccination rates below the target rate of 95% for the 2023-2024 school year. The ongoing presence of vaccine skeptics in the media has further muddied the waters. Public figures, such as our now confirmed Secretary of Health RFK Jr. questioning vaccine safety, leads to hesitancy among the public. It is a sad reality that the nation is facing and it begs the questions: should children be able to be exempt from vaccination without a medical reason? How do mandatory vaccination policies that disallow non-medical exemptions impact people’s liberty and societal freedom? Should there even be a vaccine mandate at all?

Possible Solutions to Halt the Outbreak

The most clear and effective way to combat measles and other diseases like it is to get to higher levels of vaccination coverage. Getting vaccinated should never be a hassle and should always be free of charge, no matter a person’s insurance. Getting to the vaccine thresholds needed will give communities’ herd immunity; It is a form of indirect protection from contagious diseases when a sufficient amount of the population is vaccinated, the pathogen won’t be able to spread, reducing the likelihood of non-vaccinated individuals to get infected. When communities’ reach that vaccination threshold, people that aren’t immunized for medical or religious purposes will be much safer from catching a disease. 

Beyond guaranteed access to vaccines, the public needs to be educated on the safety and efficacy of vaccines to save lives. Trusted physicians and other healthcare workers need to play a key role in this educational outreach. While being skeptical of vaccines is rational, and even a positive thing, everyone should inform themselves to make the most informed decision for themselves, their family, and all people around them. 

Moreover, some older adults may need to consider getting a booster, particularly those who received the earlier, more ineffective version of the vaccine before 1968. Health experts advise that if there is any uncertainty about immunity status, getting an additional dose of the vaccine can provide valuable protection and will do no harm. 

A Call to Action

 This new measles outbreak is a clear symbol for the negative health effects on communities that have low vaccination rates. With declining vaccination rates across the nation, measles might be the first of many preventable diseases that are resurging in America. We must ensure easy and free access to vaccines, improved education on the topic, and reconsider policies for non medical, non religious exemptions. By taking these steps, we can relegate diseases like measles to history instead of letting them threaten us today.