Measles outbreak in Maryland calls attention to the need to get vaccinated, local doctor says
Maryland health officials have declared a measles outbreak across three counties, with the majority of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals. Medical experts emphasize the high contagiousness of the virus and the critical importance of immunization.
Why it matters
Public health outbreaks highlight the ongoing challenges of vaccine hesitancy and the necessity of maintaining herd immunity.
Health officials in Maryland are declaring a measles outbreak in three counties as cases continue to rise across the state, highlighting the importance of getting immunized. Related stories Maryland schools chief calls dip in kindergarten vaccination rates ‘cause for concern’ Md. measles cases part of Montgomery Co. push to vaccinate children before school starts Maryland confirms 3 new measles cases, warns of possible exposures
In a notice released Monday , the Maryland Department of Health declared a measles outbreak in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties after identifying 14 new confirmed cases in unvaccinated residents. The department said it has no evidence of widespread community transmission.
In total, there have been 31 confirmed measles cases in Maryland this year, with 27 unvaccinated residents accounting for those cases. Most of those cases have been identified in St. Mary’s (13), Carroll (8), and Cecil (5) counties.
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