Measles cases in the United States are on the rise, prompting renewed concerns from health experts. The Pan American Health Organization declared the disease eliminated in 2000, largely due to effective vaccination campaigns by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, measles remains a global health issue, with unvaccinated individuals potentially contracting the virus abroad and reintroducing it into the U.S.
A significant outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico has seen around 300 confirmed cases, surpassing the total number of cases reported nationwide in 2024. While the outbreak is currently confined to rural areas with low vaccination rates, the highly contagious nature of measles raises alarm. The virus is more infectious than COVID-19, smallpox, or even Ebola, and an infected individual traveling to another low-vaccination area could trigger further outbreaks.
Health officials are particularly concerned about the impact of declining vaccination rates, especially among young children, which heightens the risk of further measles transmission.
Public health experts are calling for increased vaccination efforts to combat this growing threat.
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