A statement about the report attributed the uptick to inadequate immunization coverage.
More than 22 million children did not receive a first dose of the two-dose measles vaccine last year.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but outbreaks have continued to crop up.
Povorozniuk Liudmyla / Getty Images
This is a disease where infections that are global quickly become local, Handy added.
Why Measles Outbreaks Abroad Matter in the U.S.
Measles is one of the most contagious human diseases known, according to the CDC.
In communities where fewer than 95% are vaccinated, one person with measles can infect a dozen others.
According to the report, 57 countries experienced large or disruptive measles outbreaks last year.
The WHO reverified Brazil as measles-free this year, making the Americas region free of endemic measles.
If somebody travels abroad and theyre unvaccinated, they can bring measles back into the United States.
Its just that contagious, Handy said.
Routine childhood vaccination coverage has declined steadily in the U.S. over the past three years.
In certain communities, coverage is even lower.
In 14 states, fewer than 90% of kindergarteners are vaccinated against MMR.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children couldnt access routine health care, contributing to missed vaccinations.
Meanwhile, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation proliferated.
The conclusions have been disproven many times, but misinformation and skepticism about the vaccine persist.
The initial symptoms commonly resemble the common coldcough, runny nose, fever, and red or watery eyes.
A full-body rash typically appears three to five days later.
About one in five unvaccinated people in the U.S. with measles will be hospitalized.
In rare cases, especially in children younger than 5, serious infections can lead to death.
Your vaccine eligibility may depend on when you were born and your health status and history.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles cases and outbreaks.
Kaiser Family Foundation.Childhood vaccination rates continue to decline as Trump heads for a second term.
2011;53(2):95-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.82529
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Child immunization schedule notes.
