What is it about?
Since 2018 and currently in 2019, the United States and Canada are experiencing a rapidly spreading measles virus outbreak. The developing outbreak may be due to a lack of vaccination, an inadequate dosage of measles (MMR) vaccine, clusters of intentionally under-vaccinated children, imported measles from global travel, and from those who are immunocompromised or have other life-threatening diseases. The infection originated from travelers who acquired measles abroad and brought it back to the United States and Canada. This has lead to a major outbreak and health concern globally.
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Why is it important?
This review confirms that the cases of measles infection are higher among the unvaccinated population, which consists mainly of children defined as 18 years of age and below, or below 18 years of age depending on the source age classification. The majority of measles outbreaks currently in the United States and Canada are due to unvaccinated individuals who have been in contact with the viral particle.
Perspectives
To contain the disease and prevent future outbreaks, we would recommend that all children, travelers, and susceptible individuals be vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. The recent spike in vaccine deterrence, coupled with the increase in international travel, has created the perfect circumstance for the disease to enter into areas where it was once considered eliminated, such as the United States and Canada. Anti-vaccination groups should be met with a public health awareness campaign to sensitize people and counter the unfounded arguments against vaccination.
Dr Adekunle Sanyaolu
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Measles Outbreak in Unvaccinated and Partially Vaccinated Children and Adults in the United States and Canada (2018-2019): A Narrative Review of Cases, INQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing, January 2019, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0046958019894098.
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