Unvaccinated Travelers Can Bring Measles Home

Measles cases increased by about 80% worldwide during 2022 compared with 2021, and experts have recently warned of increasing measles outbreaks in 2023. 

India remains the leader globally, with 46,231 measles cases reported over the past year.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that as of September 29, 2023, 29 cases have been reported in 16 jurisdictions this year.

This is positive news compared to 2022 when six jurisdictions reported 121 measles cases.

However, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced on October 13, 2023, that a measles infection had been confirmed in Cook County. The case is the state’s first since 2019. This person was unvaccinated and had been exposed during international travel. 

And in Wisconsin, the City of Milwaukee Health Department received a report of a confirmed case of measles in a City of Milwaukee resident employed in Waukesha County.

As of October 10, 2023, local health agencies were working to identify and notify individuals in Wisconsin who may have been exposed to the measles virus and are implementing control measures.

Measles is a very contagious but vaccine-preventable disease, says the CDC.

In the U.S., various measles vaccines are available at most health clinics and pharmacies in 2023.