Measles, one of the most contagious communicable diseases in the world, is returning with troubling vigor in the United States. The virus was recently detected in its 11th state. These so-called “donor” states include Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. So far this season, Oklahoma and New Mexico have reported as most recently infected states, while Texas is experiencing a large outbreak still exceeding last season’s total. Yet health officials are alarmed, and they caution that the number of cases represents only the tip of the iceberg. Given the disease’s quickly transmissible nature and pockets of low vaccination rates, this was hardly surprising.
Perhaps most worrisome about the Texas outbreak is that it has now started to spill over into neighboring states. In Oklahoma, four probable cases have been reported after the Texas outbreak. Local health departments are already raising alarms that it’s going to get even tougher out there. They estimate that it might take a year or more before the outbreak is brought under control.
The measles virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the room. This capacity to hang on greatly enhances its odds of transmitting explosively among unvaccinated populations. Public health experts have been urging all eligible people to get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of these outbreaks.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world,” stated Lucia Donatelli, highlighting the urgent need for immunization.
In response to the escalating situation, health departments in cities like Lubbock have established mass vaccination clinics offering the MMR vaccine free of charge. In Lubbock’s clinic, staff members have given 300 more vaccines than normal in recent weeks.
“There’s a lot of vaccine hesitancy in Gaines County, which is where the majority of the cases are,” said Katherine Wells.
This hesitancy and a massive, isolated population create enormous logistical challenges in controlling and containing the outbreaks. As COVID misinformation about vaccines continues to run rampant, this surge of misinformation is thought to be a major deciding factor in the dramatic rise of measles cases.
Maryland has seen a very notable uptick in cases too, with two new incidences recently announced. That’s why the Texas outbreak is causing such a stir across state lines. As of today, Oklahoma authorities have confirmed four probable cases related to the developing situation in Texas.
The current resurgence of measles in the United States should not be seen as a one-off event. Understanding the international context shows a picture of rising international measles cases as well. Experts warn that the US government’s decision to lay off thousands of USAID employees and put USAID contractors on furlough may have inadvertently inflated this increase. They contend that these actions have greatly impeded global vaccination efforts.
Education and outreach to convince communities to embrace immunizations are some of the many efforts, terrible pun fully intended. Public health officials are encouraging anyone who thinks they have been exposed to call ahead before visiting any medical facilities. This helps providers plan accordingly and minimize risk to patients while protecting others from possible exposure.
“Call ahead to tell the place where you are going to, to tell the provider where you are going to, that you’re coming in because you may have possibly been exposed to measles,” advised Lucia Donatelli.
“That way, the provider can go ahead and make the proper arrangements so that you could be seen safely and quickly – and at the same time, they can protect other people,” she further explained.
Even with these steps, problems remain. While vaccine hesitancy continues to pose a major obstacle, family stories shared by impacted families serve to underscore… One mother voiced her reluctance towards vaccination:
“We would absolutely not take the MMR,” expressed the mother of a girl who experienced measles.
Her sentiment reflects a larger attitude of doubt that exists in many communities.
“The measles wasn’t that bad. They got over it,” she added.
The girl's father downplayed media reports on the severity of measles:
“It’s not as bad as the media is making it out to be,” he remarked.
These perspectives illuminate the path forward in the fight against misinformation. They urge health authorities to counter misinformation with increased transparency on vaccine safety and effectiveness.