Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Measles Outbreak: Cases Surge In South Carolina; After US, Canada's Elimination Status Too Could Be Threatened

<strong><span rel="noindex">Measles</span> <span rel="noindex">Outbreak</span>:</strong> Measles is back again in America, with the Upstate South Carolina being hit by the outbreak again, and grown by 2 more cases. This has raised the state total to 25. 

Health officials have confirmed that both the new infections were linked to close contacts of known cases. Those two in contact were under quarantine at home following exposures at two schools that had a high percentage of unvaccinated students. Of the state's 25 cases, 22 have occurred as part of the Upstate outbreak. 

New York’s Rockland County has confirmed its second measles case in three months. The county, which saw a major measles outbreak in 2018–19 and has a sizable unvaccinated population, is once again on alert. Health officials said the new case is unrelated to the one reported in August, with the patient developing a rash soon after returning from an overseas trip last week.

<h2>Canada's Elimination Status Could Be Threatened By Measles Cases</h2>

October 28 marked one year of continuous measles transmission in Canada. This is a cycle of virus activity that is now threatening the country's elimination status. 

As of now, the country has had more than 5,100 cases. This has been noted since the fall of 2024. This is more than double the number recorded in the past 25 years combined, which is why it is a cause of concern. 

Canada had eliminated measles in past. In 1998, the disease was eliminated, however, with the new situation, the status of the country now seems to be in jeopardy. This is also because the elimination status requires an absence of the local virus transmission for at least 12 months. 

According to CNN, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is set to review and assess the measles elimination status of several North American countries during its annual meeting next month. In Canada, nearly 90% of the measles cases reported over the past year have occurred among unvaccinated individuals. Moreover, all but 157 of these cases have been linked to the ongoing outbreak that began in Ontario in October 2024.

In Israel too, as confirmed by The Jerusalem Post, eight child has died due to measles outbreak in the nation. The recent death is of a child, who was just 2-year-old. In Israel, all deaths in this outbreak have been noted in unvaccinated children under age 3 years. 

<h2>Could US Too Lose Its Eliminated Status?</h2>

Measles has held “eliminated” status in the United States since 2000, a designation that means there had been no year-long, uncontrolled spread of the virus within the country for decades. But that milestone is now in jeopardy.

The infection is spreading again, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,596 confirmed cases this year, the highest annual total in over thirty years. The actual number could be higher, says Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

<h2>Why Are Cases Increasing In The US?</h2>

In Mohave County, Arizona, vaccination coverage among kindergartners dropped from 91% in 2019–20 to 78% in 2024–25, with a similar decline noted in southwest Utah.

Public health experts stress that at least 95% vaccination coverage is necessary to prevent the virus from spreading. Both Utah and Arizona allow parents to exempt children from school vaccine mandates on personal or religious grounds, leaving pockets of unprotected populations. Vaccine hesitancy has deepened since the Covid-19 pandemic, fueled by political polarization and a decline in public trust toward health authorities. Notably, most of the affected towns voted heavily for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, underscoring how politics and misinformation continue to shape vaccination decisions.

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Measles Outbreak: Measles is back again in America, with the Upstate South Carolina being hit by the outbreak again, and grown by 2 more cases. This has raised the state total to 25. Health officials have confirmed that both the new infections were linked to close contacts of known cases. Those two in contact were under quarantine at home following exposures at two schools that had a high percentage of unvaccinated students. Of the state's 25 cases, 22 have occurred as part of the Upstate outbreak. New York’s Rockland County has confirmed its second measles case in three months. The county, which saw a major measles outbreak in 2018–19 and has a sizable unvaccinated population, is once again on alert. Health officials said the new case is unrelated to the one reported in August, with the patient developing a rash soon after returning from an overseas trip last week.Canada's Elimination Status Could Be Threatened By Measles CasesOctober 28 marked one year of continuous measles transmission in Canada. This is a cycle of virus activity that is now threatening the country's elimination status. As of now, the country has had more than 5,100 cases. This has been noted since the fall of 2024. This is more than double the number recorded in the past 25 years combined, which is why it is a cause of concern. Canada had eliminated measles in past. In 1998, the disease was eliminated, however, with the new situation, the status of the country now seems to be in jeopardy. This is also because the elimination status requires an absence of the local virus transmission for at least 12 months. According to CNN, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is set to review and assess the measles elimination status of several North American countries during its annual meeting next month. In Canada, nearly 90% of the measles cases reported over the past year have occurred among unvaccinated individuals. Moreover, all but 157 of these cases have been linked to the ongoing outbreak that began in Ontario in October 2024.In Israel too, as confirmed by The Jerusalem Post, eight child has died due to measles outbreak in the nation. The recent death is of a child, who was just 2-year-old. In Israel, all deaths in this outbreak have been noted in unvaccinated children under age 3 years. Could US Too Lose Its Eliminated Status?Measles has held “eliminated” status in the United States since 2000, a designation that means there had been no year-long, uncontrolled spread of the virus within the country for decades. But that milestone is now in jeopardy.The infection is spreading again, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,596 confirmed cases this year, the highest annual total in over thirty years. The actual number could be higher, says Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Why Are Cases Increasing In The US?In Mohave County, Arizona, vaccination coverage among kindergartners dropped from 91% in 2019–20 to 78% in 2024–25, with a similar decline noted in southwest Utah.Public health experts stress that at least 95% vaccination coverage is necessary to prevent the virus from spreading. Both Utah and Arizona allow parents to exempt children from school vaccine mandates on personal or religious grounds, leaving pockets of unprotected populations. Vaccine hesitancy has deepened since the Covid-19 pandemic, fueled by political polarization and a decline in public trust toward health authorities. Notably, most of the affected towns voted heavily for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, underscoring how politics and misinformation continue to shape vaccination decisions.