Measles Outbreak Fueled by Low Vaccination Rates

Over the past few years, healthcare professionals and public health experts have seen the resurgence of many diseases that were once obsolete or nearly obsolete. In part, these rising rates have been attributed to low vaccination rates for diseases once eradicated by vaccination. In an all too familiar chain of events, the measles outbreak in Ohio, fueled by low vaccination rates, has caused over 80 pediatric infections. This outbreak follows a notice earlier this year of a reappearance of diphtheria in Australia, also connected to low vaccination rates.

On Tuesday, December 27, 2022, the city of Columbus, Ohio, updated its measles public report. The new report reveals that 82 cases of measles have been identified since the start of the outbreak in December. According to public health officials, 32 of these cases have resulted in hospitalizations. While no infections have caused mortality, healthcare experts are increasingly concerned about the potential deaths should cases continue to rise.

The report revealed that all identified cases have been in pediatric patients, with no cases in those 18 or older. Approximately 66% of reported cases have been in children between the ages of 1 and 5. The report notes that 23 cases have been in children under 1. The highest infection rate is in children between 1 and 2, with 36 reported events. Finally, the age brackets from 3 to 5 and 16 to 17 have had 18 and 5 cases, respectively.

Currently, no data suggest that this outbreak affects a specific gender significantly more, as 49% of cases are female, and 51% are male.

However, data in this report reflects information shared by public health officials in revealing that vaccination can prevent infection. According to the report, around 90% of all reported cases of measles have been in unvaccinated patients, making up 74 of the 82 cases. Four cases were in partially vaccinated individuals, and an additional four cases were in patients of unknown vaccination status. However, no cases were observed in fully vaccinated patients.

“The reason why so many of our young children have been impacted by this measles outbreak is because that’s the greatest majority of our population that’s unvaccinated,” said Mysheika Roberts, Columbus Health Commissioner, in an interview with The Hill.

Low vaccination rates have unparalleled impacts that tend to affect pediatric populations at a higher rate. To mitigate risks, healthcare professionals and public health officials strongly suggest that parents keep their children’s vaccinations up to date and regularly monitor disease outbreaks in their area.