Measles. When most of us hear that word, we think of Little House on the Prairie or A Christmas Story, or perhaps Oliver Twist — stories, in other words, of children from a time long past, one in which childhood infectious diseases like measles or mumps were common and no cures had been found. We probably think this way because measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in the year 2000.
But measles is back. Though it is still considered eliminated according to the technical definition, and the incidence of the disease is very low, it is making a return; there were 37 cases in 2004, and 668 in 2014. That’s 1800% growth!
The MMR vaccine is the only effective measles deterrent, but a little bit of education also goes a long way. So FastMed would like to provide you some background on the history of measles.
Pre-20th Century
- We don’t know how far back in human history measles dates, but there are written accounts of it as long ago as the 9th century.
- It was so common in America in the 1950s that most children got the disease before the age of 15.
- In the American Civil War, more than 4,000 Union soldiers died from measles, and more than 67,000 contracted it. The disease killed troops on both sides.
20th Century
- Measles was both widespread and dangerous; in the decade after 1912, the first year in which the U.S. government tracked the number of cases of the disease, it caused an average of 6,000 deaths per year.
- A measles vaccine became available in 1963, and the CDC began to recommend vaccination for all children.
- In 1989, an outbreak of measles prompted the recommendation that children receive a second round of vaccination.
Present Day
- In 2000, because there had been no continuous disease transmission for 12 months or more in any specific geographic area, measles was declared eliminated in the United States.
- In 2008, measles cases numbered more than 100 for the first time since the year 2000.
- In 2014, the U.S. experienced 23 measles outbreaks, for a combined total of more than 600 cases.
- In 2015, measles outbreaks affected 19 states and the District of Columbia for a combined total of 189 cases.
- So far in 2016, there’s been 19 reported cases of measles in 9 states (as of May 21, 2016)
Recurrences of infectious diseases like measles are usually linked to unvaccinated people. FastMed can talk to you about how to prevent the spread of viruses, discuss options for vaccination and help you spot the symptoms of measles. Don’t wait; call now to learn more about measles and find out what you can do to prevent your family from getting sick.
This article was originally posted in May 2015 and has since been updated on June 6, 2016.
About FastMed
FastMed is a leading provider of high-quality, convenient, affordable, and compassionate healthcare in 34 counties across North Carolina. FastMed serves both urban and rural communities across the state with a wide range of care options, including preventive, telemedicine, occupational health, and primary and urgent care. FastMed is one of the few urgent care providers in the nation that has earned The Joint Commission’s coveted Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety, and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information, visit www.fastmed.com.