U.S. Measles Cases Hit Record High in 2019

In 2019, the U.S. experienced a record surge in measles cases, marking the highest outbreak in decades. The rapid rise raised public health concerns, prompting vaccination efforts and awareness campaigns. Experts linked the increase to declining immunization rates and global outbreaks. The CDC urged communities to take preventive measures to curb the spread of this highly contagious disease. #MeaslesOutbreak #PublicHealth

A measles outbreak in Texas has contributed to a rise in U.S. cases, bringing the total to at least 143 within the first two months of the year. In contrast, the country reported only 285 cases throughout all of 2024. According to CDC data, as of last Friday, there were 93 confirmed measles cases across eight states and cities. Since then, the Texas outbreak has added at least 50 more cases, while New Mexico’s outbreak has remained at nine, increasing the overall total to no fewer than 143.

On Wednesday, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly criticized vaccines, confirmed that the Texas outbreak had resulted in two fatalities. Of the 124 reported cases, 101 involved minors, and at least one of the deceased was an unvaccinated child. Information regarding the second victim has not been verified. The United States had not recorded a measles-related death in nearly a decade. The outbreak is believed to have originated within a Mennonite community, where vaccination rates tend to be lower. Statewide, Texas had a recent vaccination rate of 94.2 percent, compared to the national average of 92.7 percent - both figures falling short of the 95 percent threshold required for herd immunity.

In 2019, measles cases in the U.S. reached nearly 1,300, marking a 27-year high. The disease had previously been declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, but the country now faces the possibility of losing that status due to recurring outbreaks. In 2019, 73 percent of reported cases were traced to outbreaks in New York, particularly within Orthodox Jewish communities, where vaccination rates are often lower. Other areas with declining immunization rates also experienced outbreaks that year. A previous spike in 2014, although not as severe, was linked to an Amish missionary who traveled to the Philippines and later spread the virus to an under-vaccinated Amish community in Ohio. Another significant outbreak that year at Disneyland in California further contributed to rising case numbers.

Globally, measles cases declined between 2000 and 2023, but recent trends show an increase. In 2000, an estimated 37 million people contracted measles, with around 800,000 resulting deaths worldwide. By 2016, those numbers had dropped to approximately 7 million cases and 90,000 fatalities. However, cases surged again in 2023, with an estimated 10.3 million infections and more than 107,000 deaths. The United Nations launched the War on Measles in 2001 with significant backing from the U.S. federal government, the American Red Cross, and philanthropic donors such as Ted Turner and Bill and Melinda Gates. Much of the funding was allocated to training, resources, and logistical support necessary for administering the two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Recently, global vaccination rates have declined due to growing vaccine skepticism and difficulties in access during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in measles-related deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified inadequate vaccine coverage, largely driven by poverty, as the primary reason for the worldwide resurgence in measles. In many countries, healthcare infrastructure is not developed enough to ensure consistent vaccinations for children, allowing the virus to spread. Additionally, misinformation, distrust in pharmaceutical companies, and anti-vaccine movements have fueled hesitancy both in the U.S. and around the world.

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Source: Statista‍