Measles Outbreaks Escalate in North America, Raising Public Health Concerns
Significant surges in measles cases in the U.S. and Canada highlight the impact of declining vaccination rates and community spread.
- The U.S. is experiencing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, with two measles-related deaths reported in unvaccinated individuals.
- Ontario, Canada, has recorded nearly 200 new cases in two weeks, part of a larger outbreak linked to an imported case from New Brunswick last year.
- Health officials attribute the outbreaks to declining vaccination rates, worsened by vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Measles, one of the most contagious diseases, can linger in the air for hours and is preventable with the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective with two doses.
- Experts warn that the outbreaks could be larger than reported due to underdiagnosed or unreported cases, particularly in unvaccinated communities.