Breaking News – There were at least 51 cases of measles already in the United States in 2023. (see below)
We started 2023 with an ongoing measles outbreak in Ohio…
And we ended it with ongoing outbreaks in Philadelphia and Washington…
After seeing a record high and low number of measles cases in the United States in the last few years, what can we expect in 2023, as measles epidemics are once again being reported around the world and travel restrictions have loosened??
2023 Measles Outbreaks
The Columbus, Ohio measles outbreak ended without any new cases in 2023!
“As of February 23, 2023, we have surpassed 42 days, or two incubation periods, since the last rash onset, which fits the CDC’s definition of the end of an outbreak.”
Columbus Public Health
Hopefully we won’t see another big outbreak this year…
So far, we have seen:
- an unvaccinated adult in Washington who exposed others at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Providence Swedish First Hill Emergency Department (Jan 2023)
- a case in Powell County, Kentucky (Jan 2023)
- an unvaccinated resident of Kentucky who attended a large spiritual revival on Asbury University’s campus (Feb 2023)
- a Montgomery County, Ohio resident who was evaluated at the Dayton Children’s South Emergency Department (March 2023)
- an unvaccinated Salt Lake County, Utah resident who had traveled outside the U.S (March 2023)
- a partially vaccinated individual in Hood River County, Oregon (March 2023)
- a New Jersey resident with recent international travel (March 2023)
- an unvaccinated child in Virginia (April 2023)
- an unvaccinated O‘ahu resident returning from international travel (April 2023)
- a case of measles in an O‘ahu resident who was exposed to the previously confirmed case in an international traveler
- an unvaccinated individual in Summit County, Ohio (April 2023)
- a case in a partially vaccinated child in Maine (May 2023)
- a King County, Washington child with unknown exposure (no international travel) and unknown vaccination history, which led to the Aki Kurose Middle School transitioning to online classes (May 2023)
- a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland (May 2023)
- two unvaccinated children in Fresno County, California following international travel (June 2023)
- a confirmed case of measles in a resident of Hood County, Texas (June 2023)
- a case in Washington DC – an adult who had traveled to Tanzania during a measles outbreak there
- a case in Pennsylvania, with exposures in Clearfield County and Blair County (August 2023)
- an internationally-imported confirmed case of measles in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area (August 2023)
- a confirmed case of measles in a resident of McCulloch County, Texas (August 2023)
- at least 10 cases in an ongoing outbreak in Southwest Idaho, including at least nine unvaccinated children, that “originated with an unvaccinated, nonimmune person who traveled to a country where there is an ongoing outbreak of measles. The person was exposed there and started having symptoms after returning to Idaho. (September to October 2023)
- a confirmed case of measles in a City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin resident (October 2023)
- an outbreak in northern Illinois (suburban Cook County) with at least 5 cases in unvaccinated individuals (October 2023)
- three unvaccinated adults in Clark County, Washington (December 2023)
- a teen who traveled to Colorado from a country with an ongoing measles outbreak (December 2023)
- a ‘cluster of measles among unvaccinated residents’ in Philadelphia that increased after an infected person broke quarantine and was sent to daycare, getting at least three more people sick (December 2023)
What’s next?
Unfortunately, I think we can expect more measles…
Interestingly, unlike most years, this year we are seeing more indigenous than imported cases!
“Two cases of measles have been confirmed in Texas this year, both in non-school-aged children. The first case was diagnosed in June in a resident of Hood County. The second was diagnosed in August in a resident of McCulloch County. Neither has a history of travel to an area where measles is spreading, and no other risk factors for exposure were identified.”
Health Alert: Confirmed Case of Measles – August 2023
Where are all of these indigenous cases coming from?
Are there more cases than haven’t been reported?
Are we going to start seeing more cases, especially as we are seeing more international outbreaks?
Less travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic had kept measles cases low in the United States, but unless folks get vaccinated and protected, they will rise as travel restrictions have eased.
Are you vaccinated and protected with two doses of MMR?
More on the 2023 Measles Outbreaks:
- The Next COVID-19 Wave Might Not Be COVID-19
- How Contagious Is Measles?
- Why Are You Still Worried About the MMR Vaccine?
- What to Do If Your Child Is Exposed to Measles
- Can MMR Shedding Start a Measles Outbreak?
- A History of Measles Outbreaks in the United States
- When Was the Last Measles Death in the United States?
- Costs of a Measles Outbreak
- CDC – Measles Cases and Outbreaks
- Measles – Timeline | History of Vaccine
- Ask the Experts about MMR
- UNICEF and WHO warn of perfect storm of conditions for measles outbreaks, affecting children
- Health Alert: Confirmed Case of Measles – August 2023