US reports 17% increase in measles cases in a week, 712 active infections

The United States has reported 17% rise in measles cases in the past week taking active infections to 712, Bloomberg reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 105 new measles cases on Friday, bringing the total to 24 affected states.

According to the CDC, 97% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had an uncertain vaccination status.

Texas, the epicenter of the current measles outbreak where child fatalities have occurred, reported 36 new confirmed cases since Tuesday, raising its total to 541. Nearby New Mexico, which has recorded one suspected measles-related death, added two more cases, bringing its total to 58.

“If we already have two deaths in Texas, that tells you it’s already in the thousands, not the hundreds,” said Amesh Adalja, a doctor at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

As of Thursday, the Ohio reported 20 confirmed measles cases across the state. Meanwhile, cases in Oklahoma held steady on Tuesday, with eight confirmed and two probable infections.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Although it is vaccine-preventable, the disease has been considered eliminated in the US since 2000.

According to the World Health Organization, the measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection after two doses and is estimated to have saved around 60 million lives since the year 2000.