Situation Report: Measles Spreads to 17 States in the U.S.

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Outbreaks of Measles in the U.S.

From January 1 to March 14, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 58 confirmed cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions in the United States. These cases have been attributed to seven outbreaks, compared to the 58 total cases in four outbreaks reported throughout the entirety of 2023. Ninety-three percent of the reported cases in 2024 are linked to international travel. Among the affected individuals, the majority are children aged 12 months and older who have not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. View the most up-to-date case count.

Vaccinate to Prevent Measles Infection

Measles is a highly contagious, infectious viral illness with risks of serious health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. Oe infected individual can transmit the virus to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people with whom they are in close contact. Measles case often originate from unvaccinated or under-vaccinated U.S. residents who travel internationally and then transmit the disease to people who are not vaccinated against measles.  

While many U.S. communities boast high levels of measles immunity, pockets of low vaccination coverage leave certain areas vulnerable to outbreaks.

To stem the tide of measles infections and mitigate the risk of community transmission, U.S. travelers should ensure they are up-to-date with their MMR vaccinations. Equally important, health care providers should ensure that children receive timely MMR immunizations as part of routine health care practices. Share this information with patients to protect themselves against measles when traveling.

Identifying and Managing Measles Cases

Health care providers play a pivotal role in identifying and managing measles cases. Health care providers should consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash illness and symptoms consistent with measles, especially after recent international travel or exposure to a person with a recent febrile rash illness.

Measles symptoms include high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots on the inside of the cheeks, lasting 2-4 days before the onset of a distinctive rash all over the body.

Health care workers should adhere to standard and airborne precautions when evaluating suspect cases regardless of vaccination status. If available, patients should be placed in an airborne infection isolation room.

If you suspect measles, immediately notify your local or state health departments to ensure rapid testing and investigation. States must report measles cases to the CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System or directly to the CDC at measlesreport@cdc.gov.

Additional Resources

• CDC Health Advisory on the Increase in Global and Domestic Measles Cases and Outbreaks (CDC, https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2024/han00504.asp, Accessed 3/20/2024)
• PAHO/WHO Measles Resources
• CDC Micro-Learn on Rash
• Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals
• Measles Infection Prevention Recommendations in Healthcare Settings
• Measles Surveillance Manual
• CDC Yellow Book 2024: Rubeola/Measles