Measles nearly eliminated in U.S., officials say

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Measles nearly eliminated in U.S., officials say

Posted 9-13-99
By Diane Sussman

Atlanta. Measles, once a nearly universal disease of childhood, has been all but wiped out in the United States, federal health officials announced Sept. 2.

Only 100 cases of measles were reported in 1998, the fewest since health officials began tracking the virus in 1912. That number is down from 138 cases in 1997 and 27,786 cases as recently as 1990, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's been a tremendous decrease," said Mark Papania, MD, acting chief of the CDC's measles elimination program.

Officials attribute the decline to a concerted push in recent years to raise vaccination rates across the country and to the addition of a second dose of the vaccine for young schoolchildren.

The CDC estimates all but 29 of the reported cases originated outside the United States. "We think that all the transmission is related to importation of measles virus from other countries," Papania said.

Before 1963, when the measles vaccine was introduced, virtually every child in the nation came down with the highly contagious viral infection. The illness is characterized by fever, cough, watery eyes, and the hallmark red rash that appears the third or fourth day.

The good news should not be interpreted as an invitation to relax immunization efforts. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend children get one dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months and a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 or between 11 and 12.