Maryland measles cases jump tenfold this year with outbreak declared in three counties

Maryland health officials declared a measles outbreak in three counties on Monday after 14 new cases were reported, bringing the total this year to 31.

The new cases in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties represent a stunning increase for a state that has had relatively high vaccination rates. There were three cases in all of last year — and just 10 cases total in the prior decade.

Officials said, however, there were no public exposures among the new cases, which were among several households, and all those infected were unvaccinated. Health department officials did not release any specific information about those infected, such as the ages of those involved.

The health officials still are urging people to check their vaccination status and get a shot for measles. It remains a highly contagious and potentially dangerous infection that can lead to serious complications and long-term impacts to the immune system.

“The overall risk remains low if you are fully vaccinated,” Dr. Meena Seshamani, Maryland’s health secretary, said in a statement. “We ask that Marylanders join us in our effort to help keep our youngest safe and protect those who are most at risk. Checking your vaccination status and getting vaccinated if you are not up-to-date is the simplest and most effective way to do that.”

Symptoms include a red rash, fever, cough and runny nose.

The risk for unvaccinated people is high. Some 90% of these people who are exposed to the virus are likely to become infected, according to health department officials. The virus can hang in the air for up to two hours after an infected person sneezes or coughs and leaves the area.

While the cases are unusually high for Maryland, many other states are experiencing far higher measles infection numbers. Confidence in vaccines has waned amid a misinformation campaign about the vaccine’s safety. Public officials have pointed to the U.S. health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine critic, for stoking some confusion and anti-vaccination fervor.

For more than 25 years, measles had been effectively eliminated from the country. But that status is now in jeopardy. Johns Hopkins University’s measles tracker reports there have been 2,813 cases so far this year, with the biggest outbreaks in Texas, Utah, South Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania. Those states also have vaccination rates below the 95% threshold considered essential to protect the wider community.

Maryland kindergarteners have a vaccination rate of about 96%, according to Johns Hopkins University research.

Maryland health officials no longer follow federal vaccine guidance, and instead tie recommendations to those offered by leading national medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics on administering the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The group says it should be given at about a year for the first dose, and between the ages 4 and 6 for the second. The MMR vaccine is required for school in the state.

Public health officials recommend adults have at least one dose of MMR or two doses if they are a reduced level of immunity. Most insurance covers the vaccinations, and the state and federal governments have programs through local health departments for the uninsured and under insured

Public health officials also largely rejected an order signed recently by President Donald Trump that called for three spaced visits for measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, instead of one visit for the combination vaccine.

Maryland’s health department does not provide details on those infected in the state, but reports this breakdown of cases by county.

Since July 15:

• St. Mary’s had 13 cases
• Carroll had eight cases
• Cecil had five cases
• Charles had one case

Before July 15:

• Anne Arundel had two cases
• Baltimore City had one case
• Prince George’s had one case