Federal scientists informed state officials in a meeting on Monday that the measles outbreak in the Southwest is now the largest since the United States declared the disease eliminated in 2000.
According to a recording obtained by The New York Times, this stark assessment had not been publicly communicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) until now.
In 2019, an increase in measles cases was primarily seen in Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City and State. However, health officials consider those to be separate outbreaks due to multiple introductions of the virus from international travelers.
C.D.C. officials now see the outbreak spread across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico as one linked incident, according to Dr. Dan Filardo, who leads the agency’s measles response team, during the meeting with state health officials.
“This is the biggest outbreak in the U.S. since the elimination of measles was declared in 2000,” he stated. The agency is dispatching seven more officials to Texas, which is the epicenter of this growing crisis.
Since late January, Texas health authorities have recorded 624 cases. Tragically, two unvaccinated young girls have died, marking the first measles-related fatalities in the U.S. in a decade.
By Thursday, the C.D.C. had logged 800 measles cases nationally, although the current numbers could be higher because it takes time to compile state reports.
There were over 20 distinct outbreaks in 2019, resulting in a total of 1,249 cases— a total that is likely to be exceeded this year.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Approximately 70 percent of the cases nationwide involve children, with an average age of eight years. About 11 percent, or 85 cases, required hospitalization, the majority occurring in Texas.
Most infections are found in individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is uncertain. Communities of Mennonites, which tend to have lower vaccination rates, have been particularly affected.
Measles has also impacted Mennonite communities in Ontario, Canada, and Chihuahua State, Mexico. The Canadian outbreak has risen to almost 1,000 cases since October, while the outbreak in Mexico has exceeded 400 cases this year, resulting in one adult casualty from measles.
“With ongoing weddings, large religious gatherings, and celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of Mennonite origins, we are concerned about potential further spread of measles in the North American Plains communities,” Dr. Filardo warned.
The 2019 measles outbreak was only resolved after an extensive, 11-month public health initiative involving hundreds of experts, costing more than $8 million, and in some areas, mandated vaccinations, Dr. Jane Zucker, an adjunct professor at SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, shared during a C.D.C. advisory meeting last week.
Health officials dealing with this year’s outbreak are encountering unexpected challenges.
In a meeting last week, Dr. David Sugerman, a senior scientist with the C.D.C., mentioned that recent threats to local public health funding have forced the agency to “scrape for resources” to assist those in Texas and other affected states.
Last month, the H.H.S. attempted to cut billions in funds meant for local health departments. (A judge has currently blocked these funding cuts following a lawsuit from a coalition of states against the Trump administration.)
Layoffs at the C.D.C. have resulted in the closure of entire divisions at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which had been aiding states in ensuring their hospitals could handle patients with airborne diseases.
Furthermore, the response has been hindered by unclear messaging from the nation’s leading health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has minimized the importance of vaccinations and the severity of measles infections while promoting unverified treatments, such as cod liver oil.
In West Texas, some local physicians reported that measles patients postponed essential medical treatment in favor of home remedies influenced by some of the supplements Mr. Kennedy endorsed.
During the call with state officials, C.D.C. scientists did not reference any treatments and firmly supported vaccinations. “Vaccination remains our best defense against measles outbreaks,” Dr. Filardo emphasized.
