Public Health Officials Warn More Measles Cases Likely
The CDC says it’s advising some older individuals to get their vaccines updated.
Leo Correa / Associated Press
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its latest statistics on the current measles outbreak as public health officials warn the virus is likely to continue to spread.
The agency has confirmed 704 cases in 22 states as April 26th — that includes 6 reported by state public health officials in Georgia — and links most of those cases to people who are not vaccinated.
“Most of us have never seen the deadly consequences that vaccine preventable diseases can have on a child, family or community, and that’s the way we want to keep it,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on a press call Monday.
He added that all Americans should make sure their current on their vaccines.
The CDC says it’s reaching out to healthcare providers to help them recognize and treat measles, creating new resources to counter what it calls “misinformation” about vaccines, and advising some older individuals to get their vaccines updated.
“When you get vaccinated you also protect others around you that are at high risk for complications because they’re too young or have a health condition,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield.
The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed six cases of the virus in the state in 2019. Three were linked to one metro-Atlanta family in January. Another three were linked to an unrelated metro-Atlanta family in April.
The agency confirmed its last case of measles in Georgia in 2015. It was the only case that year and was imported from another country.
The CDC has linked many of the largest current outbreaks to travelers who brought measles back from other countries with large outbreaks as the virus, such as Israel, Ukraine, and the Philippines. That’s why it’s issued a special vaccination advisory for travelers.
The agency says the current measles outbreak is the worst in the U.S. since 1994 but has not caused any deaths.
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