Increase in Measles Cases Tied to Drop in Vaccination Rates (2024)

FAQs

Increase in Measles Cases Tied to Drop in Vaccination Rates? ›

In 2023, the region's 40 member states reported some 42,200 measles cases, up from fewer than 1,000 in 2022. The rise in cases is also the result of declining national vaccination rates, which fell from 92%, on average, in 2019 to 91% in 2022, according to the WHO.

Outbreaks have been increasing since 2010, and that's because it's easily imported by unvaccinated travelers. And then it can spread in underimmunized communities. In 2019, more than 1,200 cases of measles were reported in the U.S., and that's the highest number we saw in decades.

This year, the U.S. is at greater risk for measles outbreaks because decreased vaccination worldwide has led to more cases internationally. People who are not vaccinated may encounter measles when traveling abroad and return to the U.S. with measles.

Measles elimination in the United States

In 1978, CDC set a goal to eliminate measles from the United States by 1982. Although this goal was not met, widespread use of measles vaccine drastically reduced the disease rates. By 1981, the number of reported measles cases was 80% less compared with the previous year.

Measles vaccination averted 57 million deaths being between 2000 and 2022. Even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available, in 2022, there were an estimated 136 000 measles deaths globally, mostly among unvaccinated or under vaccinated children under the age of 5 years.

These low vaccination rates have resulted in the measles virus making a comeback in the U.S. The measles virus is still common around the world and it is increasing globally because of low vaccination rates.

Very few people—about three out of 100—who get two doses of measles vaccine will still get measles if exposed to the virus. Experts aren't sure why. It could be that their immune systems didn't respond as well as they should have to the vaccine.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) (1+ doses): 90.8%

The World Health Organization also reported that the rise in measles is a direct result of anti-vaccination movements. The recommended measles vaccination protocol is to receive two doses, at least one month apart.

Decades of false claims of vaccine adverse events that have included a misleading association with autism, vaccine complacency and hesitancy, and reduced childhood vaccination rates during and after the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to the current resurgence of measles cases in 2024.

What is going on with the measles? ›

Measles cases in 2024

There have been 13 outbreaks (defined as 3 or more related cases) reported in 2024, and 70% of cases (175 of 251) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 4 outbreaks were reported during 2023 and 49% of cases (29 of 59) were outbreak-associated.

The measles vaccine is extremely safe. Some children — about 10 percent — will develop a fever about six to 12 days after vaccination, and an even smaller percentage will have a rash that can last a few hours to a day or two.

Measles is common worldwide. Although it was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, high rates of vaccination and excellent communication with those who refuse vaccination are needed to prevent outbreaks and sustain the elimination of measles.

Declines in measles vaccination rates globally have increased the risk of measles outbreaks worldwide, including in the United States. Measles cases continue to be brought into the United States by travelers who are infected while in other countries.

About 3 out of 100 people who get two doses of MMR vaccine will get measles if exposed to the virus. However, they are more likely to have a milder illness, and are also less likely to spread the disease to other people.

It was found that the new cases per million and new deaths per million increased as the rate of people fully vaccinated per hundred increased. The correlation coefficient between the rate of people fully vaccinated per hundred and new cases per million or new deaths per million was 0.233 or 0.057, respectively.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. Measles outbreaks occur in areas where people are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated (missing one or both doses of the measles vaccine).

Unlike SARS-CoV-2, which mutated into new strains in its first year as a human disease-causing virus, measles virus does not mutate in a comparable way.