The United States has seen a resurgence of measles cases in 2024, with 267 cases reported across 32 jurisdictions as of October 10. This marks a significant increase compared to the 59 cases reported in 2023.
Key findings:
- Outbreak-associated cases: 70% of cases in 2024 are linked to outbreaks, compared to 49% in 2023.
- Age distribution: The majority of cases are in children under 5 years old (41%), followed by 5-19 years old (31%) and adults (28%).
- Vaccination status: 88% of cases are in unvaccinated or unknown individuals, highlighting the importance of vaccination.
- Hospitalizations: 40% of cases have required hospitalization, with higher rates among younger children.
- MMR vaccine coverage: The decline in MMR vaccine coverage among kindergartners from 95.2% to 92.7% is contributing to the outbreaks.
The resurgence of measles in the United States underscores the importance of high vaccination rates and the need for continued efforts to maintain measles elimination.
CDC Report Oct 2024