There were 285 new cases of measles in the U.S. in 2024. Measles, also known as rubeola, is an infectious disease that is highly contagious and affects mostly children. Common symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and a rash. Although death rates from measles have decreased around the world, it is still responsible for around 81,000 deaths worldwide per year. Measles vaccination The main reason for the decrease in measles cases and deaths is due to high vaccination rates. The widely used MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella and is safe and effective. In 2023, around 91 percent of adolescents in the U.S. aged 13 to 17 years had received an MMR vaccination. However, in recent years there has been a rise in measles cases in many parts of the world due to vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy Vaccine hesitancy refers to a refusal or reluctance to have children vaccinated, despite the overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe and effective. This hesitancy comes from a misunderstanding of the ingredients in vaccines and how they work, a mistrust of doctors and pharmaceutical companies, and belief in the unfounded associations of vaccines with other diseases and disorders.

In 1970, there were 22.79 new cases of measles per 100,000 population in the United States. However, this rate dropped to .08 in the year 2024. This statistic shows the number of new cases of measles per 100,000 population in the United States from 1919 to 2024.

In England and Wales, the number of measles cases peaked in 2012, when there were over ***** confirmed cases reported. In the first quarters of 2024, the number of confirmed cases of measles peaked again, reaching almost two thousand cases. This statistic displays the annual number of confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales between 2000 and 2024. Variation by region and age groups In 2023, there were *** confirmed cases of measles across England and Wales, with the West Midlands and London regions reporting the highest numbers. However, the first two quarters of 2024 saw a staggering increase to ***** cases, with London alone accounting for *** of these. The majority of cases in 2024 occurred in early age groups, with children below the age of nine accounting for almost ***** cases. Vaccination rates and parental concerns As of 2023/24, only around ** percent of children had completed their primary Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) immunization by their second birthday, the lowest figure since 2010/11. By their fifth birthday, nearly ** percent of children had received their MMR immunization. Meanwhile, a 2022 survey found that around one in five parents in England were at least somewhat concerned about the MMR vaccine, while around ** percent did not express any concern at all.

This statistic shows the number of infected persons with measles during the U.S. multi-state outbreak in 2014-2015. The outbreak was linked to a Californian amusement park. In the period between December 28, 2014, and April 10, 2015, 147 persons who became infected with measles were linked to this multi-state outbreak.

Multi-state measles outbreak in 2014-2015

In the United States there are currently 140 people affected by the recent measles outbreak, with the majority of cases in California. Between December 2014 and February 2015, there were also 7 cases in Arizona and 3 in Utah. Cases of measles in the United States are not unheard of, there were 116 cases in 2001 and up to 27,786 cases in 1990. Measles is a highly contagious infection which is characterized by fever, cough, and a red rash that spreads across the body within days of the initial symptoms. In extreme cases, measles can be fatal. The recent outbreak has been associated with a movement among some parents that are refusing to vaccinate their children. This movement prevents the achievement of herd immunity. Many of the people who have contracted the disease were unvaccinated. In a 2011 survey, 67 percent of individuals stated that parents who chose not to vaccinate their children were naïve.

The vaccination can prevent the disease and has decreased global mortality from the measles virus. Worldwide, about 94 percent of 1 year olds in the Americas are vaccinated against measles, compared to 78 percent in Southeast Asia. About 91.9 percent of children between the ages of 19 and 35 months have received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in the United States in 2013, up from a low of 86 percent in 1998.

As of 2017, around 91.5 percent of children in the U.S. aged 19 to 35 months had been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The MMR vaccine is widely used around the world and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for adults who don’t have immunity and all children.

Measles

The number of cases of measles in the United States has dropped significantly since the introduction of the MMR vaccination. However, there has been a recent increase in measles cases, due to the growth of the vaccine hesitancy movement. Despite claims from this movement, the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. One dose of the MMR vaccine is around 93 percent effective against measles, while two doses is 97 percent effective.

Mumps

The MMR vaccine has resulted in a similar decrease in the rate of mumps cases in the U.S. One dose of the MMR vaccine is 78 percent effective against mumps, while two doses is 88 percent effective. Although the MMR vaccine is safe and effective, like any medicine it can have side effects. Common side effects include fever, a mild rash and temporary joint pain and stiffness.

ObjectivesDespite the adoption of a new childhood immunization program in China, the incidence of mumps remains high. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Jilin Province from 2005 to 2019 and to assess the transmissibility of mumps virus among the whole population and different subgroups by regions and age groups.MethodsThe Non-age-specific and age-specific Susceptible–Exposed–Pre-symptomatic–Infectious–Asymptomatic–Recovered (SEPIAR) models were fitted to actual mumps incidence data. The time-varying reproduction number (Rt) was used to evaluate and compare the transmissibility.ResultsFrom 2005 to 2019, a total of 57,424 cases of mumps were reported in Jilin Province. The incidence of mumps was the highest in people aged 5 to 9 years (77.37 per 100,000). The two SEPIAR models fitted the reported data well (P < 0.01). The median transmissibility (Rt) calculated by the two SEPIAR models were 1.096 (range: 1.911 × 10−5–2.192) and 1.074 (range: 0.033–2.114) respectively. The age-specific SEPIAR model was more representative of the actual epidemic of mumps in Jilin Province from 2005–2019.ConclusionsFor mumps control, it is recommended that mumps-containing vaccines (MuCV) coverage be increased nationwide in the 5–9 years age group, either by a mumps vaccine alone or by a combination of vaccines such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The coverage of vaccines in Jilin Province should be continuously expanded to establish solid immunity in the population. China needs to redefine the optimal time interval for MuCV immunization.

In the column “Short-term response SOT” is the number of patients given that had a positive response >2 weeks and ≤3 months after the last vaccination while in the column “Long-term response SOT” the number of patients that kept a positive response after ≥12 months is given (exceptions are marked with number). Data presented as number of patients with vaccination response/total number of patients.Design: pu - prospective uncontrolled, pc - prospective controlled, r- retrospective, ra – randomized, c-case report Patients: A - adult, P – paediatric, HTX- heart transplantation, RTX - renal transplantation, LTX – liver transplantation, PTX- lung transplantation, ITX – intestinal transplantation, ESRD- end stage renal disease Response: SOT – solid organ transplant recipient, HC - healthy control group, Vaccine, Vaccination schedule: T – tetanus toxoid vaccine, d – diphtheria vaccine (adult formulation with reduced antigen amount), D - diphtheria vaccine (paediatric formulation with higher antigen amount), IPV – inactivated polio vaccine, HAV – hepatitis A vaccine, rHBV - recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, TIV - trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, PPV23- 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine, PCV7- seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, HibV – Haemophilus influenzae vaccine, TBEV - tick borne encephalitis vaccine, MMR – mumps, measles, rubella vaccine, RVV – rabies virus vaccine, VZVV – varicella zoster vaccine, MMRV – mumps, measles, rubella, varicella vaccine, NA - not applicable.1patients receiving a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20.2patients receiving conventional immunosuppressive medication.3after 1st dose, controls received a different vaccination scheme compared to SOT recipients (one vs. two doses of vaccine, respectively).4after 2nd dose, controls received a different vaccination scheme compared to SOT recipients (one vs. two doses of vaccine, respectively).5after 3rd dose, controls received a different vaccination scheme compared to SOT recipients (one vs. two doses of vaccine, respectively).6patients were randomized to vaccine vs. no vaccine for the purpose of studying rejection.7patients receiving calcineurin-inhibitors.8patients receiving sirolimus.9patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil.10patients receiving azathioprin.11SOT recipients received either one or two doses of vaccine, however data for the double-dose trial are not given and stated that no difference to the single dose trial.12subunit vaccine.13virosomal vaccine.14for controls exact numbers were not given but stated that no difference between patients and controls.15response measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).16response measured by opsophagonization assay (OPA).17response measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).18response measured by opsophagonization assay (OPA).19long-term response of PPV 23 vs. PCV7 by follow up of the cohort by Kumar et al. 2003, mean continued response from patients initially vaccinated against PPV23 from varying patient numbers of ranging from 2 to 10 patients.20long-term response of PPV 23 vs. PCV7 by follow up of the cohort by Kumar et al. 2003, mean continued response of patients initially vaccinated against PCV7 from varying patient numbers ranging from 4 to 11 patients.21mean response after PCV7 only to serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F.22mean response after PCV7 followed by PPV23 to serotype 1, 5 und 7F after additional PP23 vaccination in the cohort from 23.23response to measles component.24response to mumps component.25response to rubella component.26response to mumps component.27response to measles component.28response to rubella component.29long-term response was accepted as 6 months after vaccination.30adequate response was seen but which decreased rapidly.

The MMR vaccine in the United Kingdom is a combined vaccine which immunizes against measles, mumps and rubella. In 2023/24, 85.6 percent of children in Scotland had received the second dose of the vaccine by their fifth birthday, compared to 83.9 percent of children in England. Rise of measles in recent years In 2018, there were 989 cases of measles in England and Wales, this was the highest number of annual recorded cases since 2013. From 2000 to 2019, cases of measles generally increased in England and Wales. Views towards vaccines in the UK In the UK most of the population believe in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. A 2018 survey of British respondents showed that 89 percent of the population believed that vaccines are important for children to have. In the same survey question, sixteen other European countries had a higher belief in the importance of child vaccinations than the UK, compared to twenty-one other countries which scored lower than the UK.

In 2023, roughly **** percent of children in the European Economic Area (EEA) received their first dose of the measles vaccination, while **** percent received their second dose. The two large drops in children receiving two doses of the measles vaccine in Europe correspond with two large spikes in cases of the disease in 2002 and 2010. This statistic displays the vaccination rate of measles in the European Economic Area (EEA) from 1999 to 2023, by dose.

In 2023, 97 percent of two-year-old children in Singapore were immunized against measles. The share of children immunized against measles in this age group was relatively stable over the observed period.

The share of children vaccinated for measles in Sweden was **** percent in 2022. Between 1980 and 2022, the share rose by *** percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

The rate of children immunized against measles in the age group of 12 to 23 months in Malaysia was 96 percent in 2023. Between 1983 and 2023, the rate of children rose by 85 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

In the state of Oregon, it is estimated that only ** percent of children have received recommended doses of DTaP, polio, MMR, Hib, hepatitis B, varicella and PCV vaccines by the age of 35 months. This statistic displays the states with the lowest percentage of children receiving recommended immunizations in the U.S. as of 2021. Vaccine successes Vaccines are one of the most cost- effective ways of preventing the spread of infectious diseases and reducing the health burden on healthcare systems. With immunizations, both the receiving individual is protected as well as others who cannot be vaccinated- if herd immunity is achieved, a disease may be eradicated within an area. Examples of vaccine successes include polio and diphtheria in the U.S., where reported cases of the diseases dropped to zero in recent years as a result of the effective implementation of vaccine programs. Vaccine hesitancy Many schools in the U.S. have immunization requirements to ensure protection against preventable infectious diseases; however, reasons to avoid the requirements can range from health-related contraindications to religious or philosophical reasons. Although vaccines have been proven to be safe, myths about harms due to vaccines continue to perpetuate. For example, the proportion of U.S adults who believe that vaccinations cause autism rose between 2015 and 2019 despite the fact that the evidence on which these claims are based has long since been redacted as no causal relationship has been proven. Unfortunately, the lack of MMR vaccination has caused a resurgence of measles and mumps in recent years in the U.S. and prevented eradication of these preventable diseases.