As of April 24, this year has exceeded the greatest number of measles cases in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated here in 2000. While cases across 22 states have stemmed from importation through foreign travel, the large and lasting nature of outbreaks in New York increases the risks that measles will once again become endemic in the U.S.
The rising numbers of cases and outbreaks seen this year underscore the importance of vaccination against the virus before traveling internationally, and the need for intensive community education on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Measles poses significant threats to public health and to vulnerable populations, including young children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. IDSA recommends strong immunization requirements regarding all CDC-approved vaccines with exemptions provided only in cases of medical contraindication.
The information below will be updated as new resources become available:
Patient Information
IDSA Statements
- IDSA Statement on WHO/CDC Global Measles Report
- Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Policy on State Immunization Mandates
- IDSA Policy Recommendations
Measles Related CDC Alerts
Journal Articles
- Early measles vaccination during an outbreak in The Netherlands: reduced short and long-term antibody responses in children vaccinated before 12 months of age, JID - April 11, 2019
- Principal Controversies in Vaccine Safety in the United States, CID - Feb. 12, 2019
- Sero-prevalence surveillance to predict vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks; a lesson from the 2014 measles epidemic in northern Vietnam, OFID - Jan. 24, 2019
- Eradicating measles - a call for an exceptional coordinated global effort, JID - Jan. 7, 2019
- International Importations of Measles Virus into the United States During the Postelimination Era, 2001–2016, JID - Dec. 2018
- Health Care–Associated Measles Outbreak in the United States After an Importation: Challenges and Economic Impact, JID - June 2011
- Measles Collection
- Vaccines Virtual Collection