The measles epidemic in the United States continues to escalate, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So far this year, there have been 1,288 reported cases of measles nationwide, marking the highest record since 1992. The majority of cases are concentrated in areas where community transmission has been identified, such as Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas.
Although there hasn’t been a large-scale outbreak in New York City, the Department of Health pointed out that as of early July, there have been 7 reported cases of measles in the five boroughs, with a total of 14 cases in the entire state, similar to the numbers from last year. Chantal Gomez, a spokesperson for the city’s health department, stated that sporadic cases of measles are common in a cosmopolitan city like New York. However, if vaccination rates are low, it could still lead to outbreaks, urging parents to ensure their children receive vaccinations starting at 12 months old.
Last week, Senator Chuck Schumer wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging the federal government to declare the measles epidemic a national public health emergency. He criticized Kennedy for significantly undermining vaccination promotion since taking office.
In response, Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Health Department, stated that the federal government has been assisting in multiple outbreak areas in epidemic prevention, emphasizing that vaccines are the most effective way of prevention. However, she also acknowledged that “vaccination is a personal decision” and should be assessed by medical professionals to weigh the pros and cons.
The latest data in New York City indicates that around 95% of 2-year-old children have received at least one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, but vaccination rates in some communities are below 70%. Governor Hocho and state health officials recently warned that children who are not vaccinated on time could become loopholes in the epidemic response.
In 2019, New York City experienced a widespread measles outbreak primarily in orthodox Jewish communities, leading to a surge in cases nationwide. Now, both the city and state governments are reminding the public to check their own and their children’s vaccination records, especially for families planning to travel to high-risk areas for outbreaks.