From January 1 to June 6, 2019, 1,022 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 28 states. This is an increase of 41 cases from the previous week. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. In our region, measles has been confirmed in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. No cases have been confirmed in West Virginia. For additional information about the outbreak, visit https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html.
Vaccination remains the best approach to preventing infection and spread of measles. Public health experts consider people born in the U.S. before 1957 to be immune to measles because of the high likelihood they developed natural immunity during two widespread outbreaks. People born in 1957 or later can check their immunity by verifying documentation that they had two doses of live-virus vaccine, or that they have had a blood testing showing adequate immune responses to measles virus. Here’s a great FAQ page with more information about protection from measles https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html