The United States has officially surpassed its measles case count from last year, reaching 2,371 confirmed infections by the end of July. This marks the highest number of cases in 30 years, placing increased pressure on state and local health departments.
Outbreaks are occurring throughout the country, with clusters noted in Arizona, South Carolina, and Utah. Decreasing vaccination rates nationwide are contributing to the spread.
In July, Delaware reported its first measles case in over a decade, followed by an official outbreak declaration two days later with five known cases. Vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) among kindergartners in Delaware have fallen from 98.5% in 2016 to 94.1% currently. A 95% threshold is generally considered essential for herd immunity.
Officials in Delaware are addressing the outbreak with a two-pronged approach: vaccination and contact tracing. Robert Rosenbaum, Delaware's medical director for emergency medical services and preparedness, stated that public health officials are not currently recommending early vaccination for children under one or children under four with only one shot, unless they have contact with a positive patient.