Deborah Lehman, MD reviewing Hall V et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017 Jul 14.

Misperception about risk of autism resulted in low vaccination rates and an ongoing measles outbreak.

In 2000, measles was declared eradicated in the U.S., but since then several outbreaks have been reported. Measles vaccine is highly effective, but unsupported claims about safety have led some parents to decline vaccination for their children. Because measles is extremely contagious, even small decreases in coverage diminish herd immunity and place unvaccinated individuals at risk for disease.

In April, the Minnesota Department of Public Health identified a measles outbreak, with 65 confirmed cases by the end of May; the outbreak is ongoing. Patients ranged in age from 2 months to 49 years (mean, 21 months); 85% were U.S.-born children of Somali descent. Overall, 95% of cases were in unvaccinated persons, despite 77% being vaccine eligible. As of the end of May, 31% of patients required hospitalization; there were no deaths. Vaccination rates among the Somali population in Hennepin County, Minnesota, declined from over 90% in 2008 to 36% in 2014. The outbreak led to recommendations for an accelerated vaccination schedule for children, and to a public health campaign to provide education about the risk of measles and safety of vaccination.

CITATION(S):

Hall V et al. Measles outbreak — Minnesota April–May 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017 Jul 14; 66:713.

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