Latest News on Measles Outbreaks in U.S.

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May 2, 2008

Memorandum

To:               Select Providers

From:            Jeffrey Engel, MD,
State Epidemiologist

Beth Rowe-West, R.N., B.S.N, Head
Immunization Branch

Subject:          Update on Measles Outbreaks Throughout the United States

From January 1 through April 25, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received a total of 64 reports of confirmed measles cases in the U.S.   This is the highest number of cases reported for the same time period since 2001. There were 55 cases of measles reported in the U.S. for the entire year of 2006 by comparison.  

Cases have been reported from 9 states. Outbreaks are currently ongoing in 4 states:  Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, and New York. These cases and outbreaks serve as a reminder that measles can still occur in the U.S.  Ongoing measles virus transmission was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but the risk of cases and outbreaks from imported disease remains.  

These cases and outbreaks resulted primarily from failure to vaccinate, many because of personal or religious belief exemptions.  Transmission of the disease occurred in both community and health care settings, including homes, child care centers, schools, hospitals, emergency departments and physicians’ offices. The following facts are notable:

• the ongoing risk of measles in unvaccinated persons

• the risk that unvaccinated persons transmit measles to others, including infants too young to be vaccinated and those who are immunocompromised

• the importance of maintaining high levels of vaccination

No cases of measles have been reported in North Carolina so far this year.  However, contacts of known cases in other states and countries have been identified in North Carolina and are being tracked.  

Measles virus is highly infectious and often misdiagnosed, particularly in the current era when the number of physicians experienced in diagnosing and managing patients with measles is dwindling. Timely and aggressive application of isolation, post exposure vaccination or immune globulin prophylaxis and other important control measures is critical. Please heighten your suspicion of measles and immediately report any suspect rash illness to your local health department. The local health departments must report rash illness or any suspect measles cases to the Immunization Branch at 919-707-5550. Private Providers and local health departments should not wait for laboratory confirmation before reporting suspect cases or implementing control measures.

Pictures of individuals with measles can be found at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/measles/photos.htm  

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