Last year marked the highest number of measles cases in a single year in the United States since 1992, with a total of 1,282 confirmed cases. More than 73% of these cases were linked to outbreaks in New York, affecting under-vaccinated communities. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000; however, the sustained transmission of almost 12 months nearly led to the loss of our elimination status.
This session of Public Health Grand Rounds focused on measles in the United States and the response to and lessons learned from the outbreaks in New York in 2018-2019. Presenters from New York City and New York State shared details about their outbreaks and response efforts. Presenters from CDC discussed the national picture of measles in the United States and the agency’s strategy for strengthening vaccine confidence and increasing coverage of vaccine-preventable diseases.
