<
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/09/record-measles-outbreak-in-oregon-blamed-on-vaccine-exemptions/>
'With one of the highest vaccine exemption rates in the country, Oregon is
experiencing its largest measles outbreak in decades. This year's count is now
higher than anything seen since 2000, when the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention declared the highly contagious virus eliminated from the US.
Since the start of the year, Oregon has tallied 31 cases of measles, all in
unvaccinated people. The cases have been accumulating in sustained waves of
transmission since mid-June.
Last month, when the outbreak tally was still in the 20s, health officials
noted that it was nearing a state record set in 2019. There were 28 cases that
year, which were linked to a large outbreak across the border in Washington
state. But, with that record now surpassed, the state is in pre-elimination
territory.
"Before 2019, you have to go all the way back to the early 1990s to see case
counts this high," Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and
immunization at Oregon Health Authority, said in a statement. "The reason is,
we maintained very high vaccination rates and very high population levels of
immunity. Unfortunately, we've seen an erosion in the percentage of people who
are getting vaccinated against measles."'
Via Christoph S.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
