There are multiple outbreaks of measles across the country and misinformation about the vaccine may be partly to blame. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says measles was eliminated in the U.S. two decades ago.
WKYC's senior health correspondent Monica Robins set out to verify if that's true.
The CDC identified five measles outbreaks already this year. Three in New York, one in Washington and one in Texas.
In 2018, there were 349 cases of measles in the U.S. yet, according to the CDC measles has been “eliminated” in the U.S. for nineteen years. Thanks to an effective vaccine, a large number of people vaccinated and a medical community ready to handle outbreaks.
So why do we still have cases? There’s an important delineation between the words eliminated and eradicated.
Measles hasn't been eradicated world-wide, meaning a measles outbreak is a plane landing away if someone infected comes into this country.
The worst outbreak in recent memory happened in 2014 with 667 cases. 383 of those cases were in Ohio Amish communities when un-vaccinated missionaries brought the disease back from overseas.
Ohio could be at risk for another outbreak because vaccine rates are not going up.
According to the CDC immunization survey, in 2010 nearly 94 percent of Ohio children up to three-years-old had their MMR vaccine. In 2013, the number dropped to 86 percent and in 2017 went to 88 percent. The good news is 80 percent of coverage is what’s needed for “herd immunity.” That means those who are not vaccinated are still protected by those who are vaccinated.
Vaccine rates go up during outbreaks and during 2014's outbreak, Ohio's vaccine rates jumped to nearly 96 percent, but have since gone down.
While Ohio law requires children in public schools be vaccinated, the law also allows parents to opt out for certain medical conditions, or philosophical or religious beliefs. Un-vaccinated children must stay home in the event of an outbreak.
There are six things you should know about measles:
1.The virus can float in the air up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
2. People can be infectious before they have symptoms. In fact it takes seven to fourteen days for symptoms to appear after exposure.
3. It's highly contagious and easy to catch. 90 percent of those un-vaccinated and exposed will get it.
4. It is not a harmless childhood disease, it's still killing kids around the world.
5.Symptoms of measles include high fever, runny nose, dry cough, red, watery eyes and a red rash.
6. Measles can also cause diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures and potentially death.
The facts:
There have been more than one hundred measles cases this year in the U.S. Despite that, measles is still considered eliminated in the U.S. but we still have cases because measles has not been eradicated world- wide.