Measles is on the rise. Protect your community, your family and yourself by getting vaccinated, says Dartmouth Health epidemiologist

Previously considered eradicated in the United States by the World Health Organization due to successful vaccine efforts, measles has resurged in the U.S. and is currently spreading in multiple states. A highly contagious infectious disease, measles can cause serious complications like pneumonia, ulcers and scarring on the cornea, seizures, blindness, and encephalitis which can lead to permanent brain damage and, in some cases, death. Two unvaccinated Americans have died as a result of the current outbreak.

“It’s alarming and undeniably clear that measles is making a comeback globally and nationally,” said Gabriela M. Andujar Vazquez, MD, hospital epidemiologist at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. “Vaccination rates against numerous diseases continue to decrease across the U.S., including the proven safe and effective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Most states are below the 95% threshold for kindergarteners, which is the percentage of the population that needs to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.”

Andujar shares a video update on the latest measles information:

Assignment Editor’s Note: This video is cleared for use on all digital and broadcast platforms with credit to Dartmouth Health. A downloadable file of the video is available upon request.

While there have been no measles diagnoses in New Hampshire connected to the current outbreak, which started in Texas in January, cases have been confirmed in a dozen states, including one New England patient in Rhode Island. A case connected to international travel was also confirmed in Vermont on March 11. 

Babies and children under 5, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems are at the highest risk for serious illness should they become infected with measles. The good news is that getting the MMR vaccine, which has been in use for over 50 years, provides near-perfect immunity—and the more people who get vaccinated, the better the outcomes in terms of public health.

Measles presents with a distinctive rash, redness in the eyes, coughing, sneezing, and a fever that lasts about four days. It spreads by contact with saliva or mucus from an infected person and by breathing airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing. It usually takes 10 to 14 days to get sick after exposure to measles, and the virus can remain active and contagious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. A person with measles can spread the virus before having any symptoms and days after the measles rash goes away.

“We strongly encourage all children to be vaccinated against measles. The MMR vaccine can be given starting at 12 months old,” Andujar said. “Adults who never received the measles vaccine should get at least one dose. Help to protect your communities and those you care about by getting vaccinated, and sharing this information with people you care about.”

If you and/or your children have not received the MMR vaccine and are eligible to do so, contact your primary care provider and/or your child’s pediatrician. To learn more about measles from Dartmouth Health, visit bit.ly/3DnkEXM.