As measles count rises, CDC encourages MMR vaccination

Since Jan. 1, 84 cases of measles across 14 states have been reported, 67 of which have been linked to the outbreak stemming from Disneyland resort theme parks, according to the CDC.

Most of the measles cases associated with initial exposure at the Disneyland parks have occurred in California, followed by Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Utah.

Anne Schuchat

“The majority of adults and children that have been reported to us, for which we have information, did not get vaccinated or did not know whether they had been vaccinated,” Anne Schuchat, MD, Assistant Surgeon General and director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said today in a telebriefing. “This is not a problem of the measles vaccine not working; this is a problem of the measles vaccine not being used.”

The origin of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed, though the CDC assumes an individual contracted measles overseas and then visited Disneyland theme parks and spread the disease to others.

“This outbreak reminds us that measles exposure can happen in this country in many settings, and ensuring age-appropriate vaccination for all United States residents is very important,” Schuchat said. “Maintaining high vaccination coverage in every community is important and is the best defense we have against disease outbreaks.”

Schuchat urged all health care professionals to consider measles when evaluating patients with fever, rash and other measles-related symptoms.

“Health care professionals should work to ensure their patients are getting the best protection possible against measles, which is on-time MMR vaccination, to protect them from acquiring this virus whether home or abroad,” she said.

The CDC is working with state and local health departments to control the outbreak.