In 2024, the number of measles infections in the United States has surged to more than three times that of 2023, with nearly half the year still ahead.
As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 188 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. this year.
This marks a notable rise from 2023, which saw just 58 reported cases nationwide.
MEASLES OUTBREAK AT LARGE NYC MIGRANT SHELTER
Photo illustration depicts the irritated skin of a measles-infected patient. The disease is recognized by its characteristic spots and rash. (iStock)
Approximately 65% of cases this year are linked to outbreaks, defined by the CDC as three or more connected cases. In 2024, there have been 13 outbreaks in the U.S., compared to 4 outbreaks in 2023, which accounted for 48% of all cases nationwide.
Roughly half of this year’s cases required hospitalization for isolation or complications management.
The CDC reports that 85% of the individuals infected this year were either “unvaccinated or unknown” in vaccination status, while 10% had received one dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, and 5% had received both doses.
TRAVELER INJECTED WITH CONFIRMED MEASLES CASE AT SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AMID US INCREASES
This image offers a closer look at a dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine alongside its syringe. The vaccine is administered in two doses— the first for children aged 12 to 15 months and the second for those aged 4 to 6 years. (iStock)
Experts indicate that the likelihood of contracting measles is very low after vaccination.
Measles is a highly contagious and serious airborne infection that can result in severe complications, or even fatalities, particularly in children. Symptoms include a fever reaching 105°F, along with malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, typically followed by spots and a rash, as detailed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This image offers a general view of the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. (REUTERS/Tami Chappell/File Photo)
Despite the sharp rise in infections, the figures remain far below the 2019 peak, during which nearly 1,300 measles cases were reported in the U.S. within a single year.
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
