News on the Latest Measles Outbreaks of 2019

Vincent Iannelli, MD

5 years ago

Breaking News – new measles cases in Colorado, Illinois and Texas (see below).

2019 is coming to an end soon, which is good news, as we have already had reports of record-breaking numbers of measles cases and exposures in at least 1,276 people in 32 states, including ~~Alabama (1)~~, Alaska (1), Arizona (3), California (73), Colorado (5), Connecticut (3), Florida (3), Georgia (18), Hawaii (2), Idaho (1), Illinois (10), Indiana (1), Iowa (2), Kentucky (2), Maine (1), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (46), ~~Mississippi~~ ~~(1)~~, Missouri (1), New Mexico (1), Nevada (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (13), New York (894), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (28), Pennsylvania (10), Tennessee (3), Texas (22), Virginia (1), and Washington (87).

And large, ~~ongoing~~ outbreaks in New York (Brooklyn and Rockland County) and the Pacific Northwest.

There are also many reports of measles outbreaks in Europe.

Measles Outbreaks 2019

Since there were so many ongoing measles outbreaks in 2018, it shouldn’t be surprising that we are getting off to a quick start in 2019.

Recent cases and exposures, which can be prevented with two doses of the MMR vaccine, include:

someone in Oregon who exposed other people in Portland (Jan 2), The Dalles (Dec 29 and 31, 2018), and Hood River (Dec 30, 2018)
an unvaccinated toddler in Monroe County, New York who had recently traveled to Ukraine
9 new cases in Rockland County, New York (105 total)
3 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (55 total)
3 new cases in Rockland County, New York (108 total)
a new outbreak in Clark County, Washington involving two unvaccinated children who exposed others on Jan 6 and 7 and an additional 11 suspected cases
6 new cases in Rockland County, New York (114 total)
as expected, 12 more cases in Clark County, Washington (14 total) – all children, all unvaccinated (one unverified), with multiple exposures in Vancouver, including 5 different schools, 2 churches, and 6 health care facilities
3 new cases in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn (58 total)
an adult in Denver, Colorado who became sick while traveling internationally and exposed others in Denver from Jan 10-14
2 more cases in Clark County, Washington (16 total), with 5 more suspected cases remaining and exposures in Battle Ground (Jan 8 and 14) and Vancouver (Jan 14 and 15)
2 kids from the Washington outbreak had traveled to Hawaii while contagious (January 4 to 13)
2 residents of the metro Atlanta area, with exposures between Jan 7 to 14, although there is some speculation that these cases were also travelers from the Washington outbreak

Are these cases part of the Washington outbreak?

2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (116 total)

After 19 cases and an exposure at the Portland Trail Blazers game, Clark County has declared the measles outbreak to be a public health emergency.

3 more cases in Clark County, Washington (19 total), with 7 more suspected cases remaining and exposures in Camas (Jan 10- 15), Portland (Jan 11 and 14), and Vancouver (Jan 11 to 16), leading the Clark County Council Chair Eileen Quiring to declare a public health emergency.
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (21 total), with 4 more suspected cases remaining and exposures in Vancouver (Jan 7 to 11)
4 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (62 total)
2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (118 total)
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (23 total), with 2 more suspected cases remaining and exposures in Vancouver (Jan 15 and 19) and Portland (Jan 15-16), including at the Portland International Airport (where did they go?)
4 new cases in Rockland County, New York (122 total)
a case in the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District in Illinois with multiple exposures (Jan 12 to 19) including the University of Illinois in Urbana and Champaign
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (25 total), with 12 more suspected cases!
a case in King County, Washington that is linked to the outbreak in Clark County
5 new cases in Clark County, Washington (30 total), with 9 more suspected cases!
a case in Multnomah County, Oregon that is linked to the outbreak in Clark County and with exposures (Jan 20 to 23) in Gresham, Wood Village, and Troutdale

Hopefully, no kids with immune system problems were exposed to these kids with measles.

two more cases in Monroe County, New York linked to an unvaccinated toddler with exposures at Canal View Elementery School in Spencerport
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (31 total), with 8 more suspected cases!
3 new cases in Clark County, Washington (34 total), with 9 more suspected cases and exposures in Vancouver (Jan 14 to 23)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (35 total), with 11 more suspected cases and exposures in Vancouver and Portland (Jan 14 to 23)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (36 total), with 12 more suspected cases and exposures in Battle Ground (Jan 20)
2 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (64 total)
an adult in New Haven, Connecticut
another case in Georgia, an unvaccinated family in the metro Atlanta area
6 new cases in Rockland County, New York (128 total)
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (38 total), with 13 more suspected cases, and exposures in Bend, Oregon (Jan 19-20)
a 4th case in Spencerport, New York, an unvaccinated neighbor of two previous cases.
3 new cases in Clark County, Washington (41 total) with exposures at an after-school activity at Minnehaha Elementary School (Jan 17) triggering exclusion of unvaccinated students and staff, and there are also 15 more suspected cases
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (42 total)
3 new cases in Spencerport, New York (7 total), all unvaccinated.
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (43 total) and 8 more suspected cases
another case at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, another unvaccinated student (2 total)
another case in Connecticut being treated at Yale New Haven Hospital
6 new cases in Clark County, Washington (47 total) and 7 more suspected cases
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (49 total) and 9 more suspected cases
2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (130 total)
a toddler in Galveston County, Texas that is part of a cluster in the region
3 cases in Harris County, Texas, including two young children and an older woman
a 2-year-old in Montgomery County, Texas that is linked to four other cases.
a case in Bell County, Texas, the 6th in Texas, although it isn’t clear if they are all linked
3 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (67 total)
a case in Denton County, Texas that is not linked to the 6 other cases in Texas
another case in Clark County, Washington (50 total) and 11 more suspected cases, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (52 total)
3 new cases in Multnomah County, Oregon (4 total) that are linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (55 total)
another case in Clark County, Washington (51 total) and 13 more suspected cases, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (56 total)
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (53 total) and 7 more suspected cases, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (58 total)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (53 total) and 2 more suspected cases, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (58 total) – a case that was previously confirmed turned out to be a vaccine associated rash, so case count remains the same.
6 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (73 total)

5 new cases in Rockland County, New York (135 total) and 3 suspected cases, with almost all cases being unvaccinated (81.5% are unvaccinated)
an unvaccinated child who had traveled out of the country in the Bowling Green area of Kentucky
6 new cases in Clark County, Washington (59 total) and 1 more suspected case, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (64 total)
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (61 total), all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (66 total)
2 new cases in the Champaign-Urbana Health District in Illinois, another unvaccinated student (4 total)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (62 total), and a new exposure in Battle Ground (Feb 13), all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (67 total)
3 new cases in Rockland County, New York (138 total), with almost all cases being unvaccinated (81.5% are unvaccinated)
17 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (90 total)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (63 total), and new exposure in Washougal (Feb 14) and Vancouver (Feb 11 and 18), all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (68 total)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (64 total), and 2 more suspected cases being investigated, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (69 total)
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (65 total), and 1 more suspected case being investigated, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (70 total)
1 new case in Rockland County, New York (139 total)
a new case in Bergen County, New Jersey, with exposures in Hillsdale (Feb 17 and 25)
30 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn, plus a case in Queens (121 total)
a case in Illinois, a resident who exposed others when their flight arrived in Concourse B at Chicago Midway Airport on Feb 22 and at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital on Feb 24
3 new cases in Clark County, Washington (68 total), and 3 more suspected case being investigated, all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (73 total)
1 new case in Rockland County, New York (140 total)
2 new cases in Multonmah County, Oregon that are not linked to the Pacific Northwest measles outbreak
2 new cases in Clark County, Washington (70 total) and a new exposure in Vancouver (March 1 and 2), all linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (75 total)
a passenger from New York City who exposed people on a Greyhound Bus as they traveled to Boston and Manchester, New Hampshire while contagious on Feb 26
3 new cases in Rockland County, New York (143 total)
12 new cases in the Williamsburg and Brighton Beach sections of Brooklyn (133 total)
a case in San Francisco, California – an adult who was exposed during an international flight
a case in San Antonio, Texas
a new case in Rockland County, New York (144 total)
another case in California related to a sick passenger on a plane
a 1-year-old in Pima County, Arizona who had traveled to Asia
an out-of-state traveler to Jefferson County, Missouri
a case in Collin County, Texas
a new case in Rockland County, New York (145 total)
25 new cases in the Borough Park, Midwood/Marine Park, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (158 total)
a case in Marion County, Oregon that isn’t related to their current outbreak
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (72 total), linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (76 total)
a travel related case in Oakland County, Michigan with exposures in Oak Park and Southfield (March 6 to 13)
2 cases in Liberty, New York (Sullivan County) with probable ties to the outbreak in Brooklyn
2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (147 total)

a new case in Lakewood, New Jersey – remember that Ocean County was the site of a big outbreak last year (33 cases)… (March 9 and 14)
an internationally imported case of measles in Clark County, Nevada, with exposures at a hospital and the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (March 9 and 11)
a new case in Collin County, Texas, with exposures at a Kroger in Prosper
1 new case in Clark County, Washington (73 total), linked to the Pacific Northwest Measles Outbreak (77 total)
23 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (181 total)
2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (149 total)
a 4th case in Ocean County, New Jersey with exposures in Lakewood (March 9 and 14)
2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (151 total)
a case in Tarrant County, Texas
another case in San Antonio, Texas (2 total)
4 more cases in Oakland County, Michigan (5 total), with 3 more cases under investigation and exposures in Oak Park, Southfield, and Berkley (March 14 to 19)
a child in Calaveras Springs, California
three new cases in Oakland County, Michigan (8 total)
two unvaccinated adults in Butte County, California and a related case in Shasta County, with exposures in Chico and Redding
10 new cases in Oakland County, Michigan (18 total), with exposures in Berkley, Oak Park, West Bloomfield, Southfield, and Royal Oak

Rockland county executive Ed Day declared a local state of emergency over the ongoing measles outbreaks in the area on March 26.

2 new cases in Rockland County, New York (153 total)
4 new cases in Oakland and Wayne counties in Michigan (22 total) with new exposures in Pontiac and Southfield
33 new cases in the Borough Park, Williamsburg, and Midwood/Marine Park sections of Brooklyn (214 total)
a new case in Santa Clara, California, with exposures in Sunnyvale, San Jose, Cupertino, Stanford, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, and Milpitas (March 16 to 22)
a new case in Alameda County, California with exposures in Livermore (March 23)
a new case (an out-of-state visitor) in Indianapolis, Indiana
a new case in Broward County, Florida
3 new cases in Placer County, California with exposures in Auburn (March 18)

As of March 28, the CDC is reporting 387 measles cases in 2019, the third highest number of cases in a year since 1994.

a new case in Boston, Massachusetts, with exposures in Plymouth, Waltham, Framingham, Hyannis, and Braintree (March 26 to 31)
8 new cases in Oakland and Wayne counties in Michigan (30 total)
1 new case in Rockland County (158 total)
3 new cases in Rockland County (161 total)
45 new cases in the Borough Park, Crown Heights, Williamsburg, and Flushing sections of Brooklyn (259 total)
5 new cases in Rockland County (166 total)
4 new cases in Oakland and Wayne counties in Michigan (34 total)
a new case in Dallas County, Texas that is linked to a previous case in Tarrant County
another case in Kentucky, a sibling of an unvaccinated child who developed measles last month
5 new cases in Oakland and Wayne counties in Michigan (39 total)

Williamsburg press conference on April 9.

26 new cases in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn (285 total), as Commissioner of Health declares a public health emergency and orders unvaccinated people in the 11205, 11206, 11221 and/or 11237 zip codes to be vaccinated within 48 hours
2 new cases in Rockland County (168 total), as they discuss a plan to keep unvaccinated people at home
~~2 new cases~~ in Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties in Michigan (41 39 total)
a new case in the Bronx, New York, with exposures at Montefiore Medical Center (April 9).
8 unvaccinated kids (the youngest only 6 months old) in Northern Westchester, New York and who were exposed in Brooklyn and Rockland
5 new cases in Rockland County (173 total), as they discuss a plan to keep unvaccinated people at home
7 new cases in Rockland County (180 total), as they discuss a plan to keep unvaccinated people at home
4 new cases in Rockland County (184 total), as they discuss a plan to keep unvaccinated people at home
4 new cases in California, including Santa Clara and Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, Tehama Counties
a new case in Washtenaw County, Michigan that is unrelated to the an ongoing outbreak in the area, with exposures at 18 sites, including the University of Michigan, Walgreens, CVS, Whole Foods, and DTW Airport McNamara Terminal (April 4 to 6)
a new case in New Haven County, Connecticut, linked to travel to Brooklyn
2 new cases in Rockland County (186 total), as they discuss a plan to keep unvaccinated people at home
44 new cases in the Borough Park, Midwood/Marine Park, Far Rockaway, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (329 total)
4 new cases in Rockland County (190 total), as they impose new orders for the quarantine of anyone diagnosed or exposed to someone with measles
2 new cases in Oakland County and the City of Detroit, Michigan, with exposures in Oak Park, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti (April 10 to 13)
a new case in Iowa, unvaccinated contact of the first case in the state
3 new cases in Rockland County (193 total)
a case in Tennessee, with exposures in Chattanooga and Clinton (April 11-12) and who traveled through Alabama (April 11)
30 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (359 total)
20 cases in Orange County, New York, including a mother and her baby who were hospitalized

6 new cases in Rockland County (199 total)
a case in Mississippi, with exposures in Hattiesburg (April 9-10)
31 new cases in the Brighton Beach, Williamsburg, and Hunts Point, Longwood and Melrose sections of Brooklyn (390 total)
1 new case in Rockland County (200 total), as County Executive Ed Day issued a second declaration of a local State of Emergency, renewing the original declaration until 11:59 pm, Saturday, May 25, 2019.
15 new cases have been reported in California, with new cases in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Butte, and Shasta counties and quarantines at UCLA and Cal State after exposures at those schools

32 new cases in the Borough Park, Brighton Beach, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (423 total)
4 new cases in Rockland County (205 total)
a new case in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
two new cases in Tennessee (3 total)
~~an infant who was too young to be vaccinated in St. Clair County, Alabama~~ (didn’t have measles)
8 new cases in Rockland County (214 total)
4 new cases in Pennsylvania
a traveler from Canada (infected in Japan or New York) to King County, Washington, with exposures in Seattle, including at Sea–Tac International Airport, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Seattle Center Monorail (April 21-28)
an infant who was too young to be vaccinated in Orange County, California

43 new cases in the Borough Park, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (423 total)
10 new cases in Rockland County (225 total)

32 new cases in the Borough Park, Brighton Beach, Flushing, Sunset Park, Flatbush, Jamaica, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (498 total)
6 new cases in Rockland County (231 total)
a case in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
four new measles cases in Washington, with exposures in Seattle & King County
a new case in Michigan, with exposures in Macomb County (May 11-12)
a child in New Hampshire who exposed others in Keene, including at a church and Montessori school (May 12 and 16)
a case in Chicago, with exposures on public transportation from O’Hare International Airport to University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus, and the Chicago Loop, in Millennium Park and in retail establishments on State Street between Monroe and Randolph Streets and on South Canal Street (May 16) and at the UIC Student Center East (May 17)
23 new cases in the Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Sunset Park, Jamaica, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (523 total)
2 new cases in Rockland County (233 total)
a child in Maine who exposed others in Somerset County at Madison Junior High School, Madison Area Memorial High School, a pediatrician’s office, and an ER (April 30 to May 6)
another case in King County, Washington, the Puget Sound Outbreak (7 total), with exposures in Renton
14 new cases in Rockland County (247 total)
12 new cases in the Borough Park, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (535 total)
another case in Washington, an infant in King County, with exposures at the Seattle Children’s Hospital Emergency Dept on May 24. (8 total)
a child near Boston, Massachusetts, who exposed others in Weymouth, North Quincy, and Quincy (May 18 to 24)
3 new cases in Rockland County (250 total)
an adult in King County, Washington (9 total), with exposures in Issaquah (May 25)
16 new cases in the Borough Park, Chelsea/Clinton, Port Richmond, Williamsburg, and Willowbrook sections of Brooklyn (550 total)
4 new cases in Rockland County (254 total)
3 more cases in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma (4 total)
17 new cases in the Borough Park, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, Brighton Beach/Coney Island, and Midwood/Marine Park sections of Brooklyn (566 total)
a new case in Meadville, Pennsylvania
a new case in Rockland County (255 total) as the health department issues a mandatory vaccination order for all children attending summer camp and all camp staff
a case in Latah County, Idaho, with exposures in Moscow – this is the first case in the state in 18 years!
a new case in Rockland County (256 total)
3 new cases in Sullivan County, New York, (5 total) with exposures in Kiamesha Lake, South Fallsburg, and Fallsburg
two new cases in Northern California
a child in Virginia, with exposures at Dulles International Airport and a local hospital
23 new cases in the Borough Park, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, Bensonhurst, Crown Heights, and Port Richmond sections of Brooklyn (588 total)
6 new cases in Rockland County (262 total)
8 new cases in the Borough Park, Crown Heights, Williamsburg, Bensonhurst, and West Queens sections of Brooklyn (596 total)
13 new cases in Rockland County (275 total)
13 new cases in the Borough Park, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, and West Queens sections of Brooklyn (609 total)
a case in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a resident who got measles while visiting New York State
another case in King County, Washington, a child who likely exposed others at Seattle Children’s Hospital (June 23 and 26)
10 new cases in the Borough Park, Williamsburg, Long Island City and Red Hook sections of Brooklyn (619 total)
3 new cases in Rockland County (278 total)
two cases in El Paso, Texas, including a toddler, with multiple exposures at Walmart, the Bassett Place Mall, Ft. Bliss PX (June 27 to July 1)
1 new case in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn (620 total)
an unvaccinated traveler in Grand Traverse County, Michigan who had recently traveled to Eastern Europe, with exposures in Traverse City (June 30 to July 4)
a new case in Los Angeles, California, with exposures at the Court of Sciences Student Center on UCLA Campus (July 2 and 3)
two new cases in the King County, Washington, with exposures in Auburn (July 6)
a case in Stark County, Ohio
a case in Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, an unvaccinated teenager who had traveled through Seattle, with exposures in Soldotna July 8 to 14
3 new cases in the Crown Heights and Williamsburg section of Brooklyn (623 total)
4 new cases in Rockland County (282 total)
a fourth case in El Paso, Texas, a toddler
another case in Los Angeles County, California (15 total)
a case in Detroit, Michigan, with exposures in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital of Michigan on July 16
14 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (637 total)

There were 1148 cases in 30 states on July 18, 2019.

another case in El Paso, Texas (5 total, including 2 adults and 3 children, including a child who attends a local daycare)
another case in Los Angeles County, California, with exposures in Venice, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica (July 14 to 16)
a sixth case in El Paso, Texas
7 new cases in Rockland County (289 total), even as the measles state of emergency has been declared over
5 new cases in the Borough Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (642 total)

a teenage international traveler competing in the World Hip Hop Dance Championship at the Arizona Grand Resort and Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix had measles and exposed others (August 9 to 11)
a new outbreak in Oregon, with nine new cases in Clackamas and Multnomah counties since July
a teenager from New Zealand with measles may have exposed others at Disneyland and other tourist spots in Orange County and Los Angeles County (Aug 11 to 15)
7 new cases in Rockland County (312 total)
12 new cases in the Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn (649 total)

The outbreaks in Brooklyn (649 total/593 in 2019) and Rockland County (312 total/198 in 2019) have ended.

A new case in Guilford County, North Carolina, with exposures at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (Oct 2 to 3)
A new case with exposures in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Oct 7 to 12)
A new case with exposures at Portland International Airport. (Oct 12)
An unvaccinated child in Jacksonville, Florida.
A resident of California who spent the day at Disneyland. (Oct. 16)
At least 11 cases in Cobb County, Georgia, an outbreak linked to out of state travel. (Oct – Nov)
An unvaccinated child in Clark County, Washington, with exposures in Portland and Vancouver at Portland International Airport, Peace Health Southwest Medical Center, and Randall Children’s Hospital. (Nov 14 and 16)
Three unvaccinated children from New Zealand who ended up hospitalized but not before exposing others at airports in Los Angeles and Denver and at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. (Dec 11 and 12)
A case in Illinois, with exposures in Chicago and at O’Hare International Airport. (Dec 12 and 17)
A case in Texas – an unvaccinated traveler who had recently returned from Europe and exposed people around Austin before traveling to Virginia. (Dec 14 to 19)

What kind of measles year will 2019 turn out to be? It’s a record year…

These outbreaks are a great reminder to review the special vaccine travel requirements, including that adults who “plan to travel internationally should receive 2 doses of MMR at least 28 days apart,” that infants traveling abroad can get their first dose of MMR as early as age 6 to 11 months, with a repeat dose at age 12 months, and that “children aged who are greater than or equal to 12 months need 2 doses of MMR vaccine before traveling overseas,” even if they aren’t four to six years old yet.

Measles Outbreaks 2019

For More Information On Measles Outbreaks of 2019:

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