Three more states confirm measles cases

A packet of MMR vaccine information is displayed at the City of Lubbock Health Department in Lubbock, Texas, on March 1. This weekend, three states confirmed their initial cases of measles. The photograph was taken by Annie Rice/EPA-EFE.

Three additional states reported their first measles cases of the year over the weekend, adding to the growing outbreak of this highly contagious disease in the United States, which has now affected more than half of the country’s states.

Louisiana and Virginia confirmed their first cases on Saturday, following Missouri, which had confirmed its case the day before. Each state reported one case, all of which had recent international travel history.

In Louisiana, the Department of Health stated that the patient is an unvaccinated adult in the greater New Orleans area. The individual is isolated in a local hospital, receiving treatment for the disease, with the health department working to identify and notify those who may have been in contact with the infected person.

In Virginia, the patient is a child under the age of 4 with recent international travel history, as announced by local health officials. The statement emphasized the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of measles, especially for travelers.

Missouri also reported its first case, involving a child with unknown vaccination status who had traveled internationally. Health officials assured that the exposure was limited, and contacts of the patient had been identified and notified.

Michigan, which had its first case on March 14, disclosed an outbreak involving three confirmed patients, linked to a larger outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

As of Sunday night, at least 27 states have reported measles cases this year, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirming a total of 800 cases, primarily in unvaccinated or individuals with unknown vaccination status.

With Texas leading in confirmed cases at nearly 600, the U.S. is facing its highest measles case count since 2000 when the disease was eliminated from the country.