Measles cases in the U.S. have already more than doubled 2024’s total — and the true number may be even higher, a CDC expert warned, according to NBC News.
Four updates:
1. The CDC has confirmed 800 measles cases in 24 states as of April 17, the majority driven by Texas’ ongoing outbreak. Health officials in the state have reported 36 new measles cases since April 15, bringing the total number of infections to 597.
2. David Sugerman, MD, a senior scientist overseeing the CDC’s response, said this figure is likely higher due to underreporting.
“We do believe that there’s quite a large amount of cases that are not reported and underreported,” he said during an April 15 CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting. “In working very closely with our colleagues in Texas; in talking with families, they may mention prior cases that have recovered and never received testing, other families that may have cases and never sought treatment.”
3. In March, the CDC abruptly cut $11.4 billion in grants to state health departments, which has created “funding limitations” for response efforts in Texas, according to Dr. Sugerman. State health officials have redirected available employees to focus on measles response efforts or transferred them from other regions in the state.
“We are scraping to find the resources and personnel needed to provide support to Texas and other jurisdictions,” Dr. Sugerman said during the meeting, according to NBC News.
4. This week, the CDC is sending seven additional team members to Texas to aid in response efforts, joining 15 already there. The agency is also offering local health departments measles vaccinations upon request and working to strengthen wastewater surveillance efforts.
Learn more here.
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