Math of measles: What to know about 1,001 cases of measles across the country: Cossons

The reports of the centers for disease control and prevention there was 1,001 cases of confirmed measles In the United States this year. It is the Second highest case account In 25 years, surprised only in 2019, when more than 1,200 cases of measles have been detected. The best way to contain measles is two doses of the ROR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella).

Here are figures to help you understand how measles is spreading now.

1,001 Case:

The CDC Guard True confirmed cases And updates his account on a weekly basis. On May 2, he reported 935 cases. Friday, he pointed out that cases exceeded the brand of the thousand, at 1,001.

31 jurisdictions:

Cases of measles have been reported in 31 jurisdictions, against 30 against May 1. Cases have been reported in more than half of the American states this year, but all these states do not have full -fledged epidemics.

14 epidemics::

An epidemic is defined as 3 or more linked cases. Thus, although the total number of cases is large, the number of epidemics shows where the virus spreads. The number of epidemics went from 12 last week to 14 this week.

By far, the largest epidemic is centered in western Texas, where measles has been spreading since January. The cases reported in this epidemic totaled 683 last week and 709 this week.

3 deaths

Two non -vaccinated children, if not healthy in Texas, died of the disease. An adult from New Mexico was diagnosed with measles posthumously.

18 people

In a population where no one is vaccinated, only one person sick in measles could continue to infect up to 18 others on average. In comparison, when 82% of a population is vaccinated, a sick person would infect around 2 to 3 other people not vaccinated on average.

95% vaccination rate

To prevent epidemics from spreading in a community, there must be a vaccination rate of 95%, according to the CDC. Below this threshold, the immunity of the herd of a community can start to erode. In the county of Gaines, Texas, the epicenter of the epidemic in this state and where measles is still spreading, the rate of vaccination of kindergarten against measles is just under 82%.

The immunity of the herd means that enough members of a community are immune to a contagious disease that it is unlikely that it continues to spread because there are not enough people vulnerable to infection. The immunity of the herd protects people with weakened immune systems and children who have not yet finished their series with two strokes of measles vaccine.

12 months

This is an open question how long measles will continue to propagate the Texas epidemic in the United States, the largest, began in January. If only one epidemic continues to cause continuous transmission for more than 12 months, the United States will lose its “Elimination” status of measles. This is a technical term in public health for contagions that have been well controlled for 12 months or more. The United States has had this status for about 25 years.