You’re hearing more reports on the radio about measles.
That’s because just three months into this year, the number of measles cases in the United States has surpassed the number of measles infections in all of 2024.
That’s the update today from the CDC which says at least 378 people have gotten the measles, across 18 states, including California.
The vast majority of cases so far have been in Texas and New Mexico.
The CDC, in its report, says the outbreaks most recently are linked to international travelers and numerous unvaccinated people, children and adults.
With measles being one of the most contagious childhood viruses, there is plenty of concern that it will spread further.
Coincidentally, as this latest news about measles is announced, something happened more than 70 years ago that is worth noting.
It was on March 26, 1953 that Dr. Jonas Salk announced on a national radio show that he had successfully tested a vaccine for polio, one year after there was an epidemic of polio with 58,000 cases and 3,000 deaths.
The rest is history and polio is no longer the threat it once was.
Measles was declared officially eradicated in the U.S. in the year 2000.
Public health officials blame it on unfounded and discredited information about vaccines. You have to wonder what Dr. Salk, who is remembered every day in San Diego at the Salk Institute would say now if he were still around.
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