US faces serious measles outbreak

Health workers conduct measles tests at a mobile testing site in Seminole, Texas. Photo: Los Angeles Times

The number of measles cases in the first three months of 2025 has already exceeded the total number of cases in the entire year of 2024 in the US. Experts warn that the situation could continue to worsen due to declining vaccination rates. Without effective control measures, the measles outbreak could continue to spread to other parts of the US and last until 2026.

Texas has been hardest hit by the outbreak, with a total of 400 measles cases reported since late January, mostly in West Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services said the number of cases increased by 73 in the past week alone, with 270 of them coming from Gaines County, where the outbreak is believed to have originated.

A mother gets her children vaccinated against measles last month in Odessa, Texas. Photo: NBC News

According to the CDC, the measles outbreak in Texas is linked to cases in Mexico. The World Health Organization (WHO) also confirmed that some measles cases in Mexico originated from the outbreak in Texas.

In addition to Texas, New Mexico also recorded an alarming number of cases with 44 cases, Kansas currently has 23 cases, Oklahoma recorded 9 cases, Ohio also has 10 cases of measles... CDC also recorded sporadic cases in nearly 20 other states. According to health experts, the main reason for the strong outbreak of measles is the decline in vaccination rates.

CDC data shows that measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for kindergarteners have dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.7% in 2023-2024. This means that about 280,000 children across the United States are now at high risk of measles.

In Gaines County, Texas, where the outbreak is most severe, vaccination rates are only about 80%, far below the 95% considered necessary to achieve herd immunity.

Faced with the complex situation, US health agencies are stepping up propaganda campaigns to increase vaccination rates, especially in areas with low vaccination rates.

KHANH HUNG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/my-doi-mat-dot-bung-phat-soi-nghiem-trong-post788252.html