COLUMBUS (WCMH) — The nationwide measles outbreak shows no signs of slowing down.
As of Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting 1,044 cases across 28 states since the start of 2019.
It is the largest number of cases reported in the United States in the last 27 years, despite the disease being declared eliminated in 2000.
So far, there are no confirmed cases of the disease in Ohio, but an outbreak in Pennsylvania and cases reported in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky leads many to assume it’s a matter of when — not if — Ohio will get its first case.
In the video above, Kate King, the director of Health, Family and Community Services at Columbus City Schools, discusses the importance of vaccinating against the disease.
CDC issues measles travel warning
(NBC NEWS) — A new Centers for Disease Control report is raising concerns that travelers visiting Europe could bring home not just memories, but potentially new measles cases.
Health experts say the region is experiencing a spike in measles, up 300 percent in the first three months of this year compared to the same time frame of last year.
The majority are in Ukraine, but high numbers are also reported in France, Greece And Italy…putting unvaccinated travelers at risk.
“When these international travelers from the United States go abroad, like the European region and come back home, they actually spread the disease to under-immunized or un-immunized folks in the United States also,” warns CDC infectious disease specialist Dr. Kristina Angelo.
Cases in the United States are already at their highest levels since 1992.
The CDC advises travelers get vaccinated at least four weeks before travel and babies between 6 and 11 months should receive an early, additional dose.
Read more: https://nbcnews.to/2ZoG50S