As the anti-vaccine movement continues to gain traction, the United States faces an alarming surge in measles cases, prompting significant financial and public health concerns.
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Recent outbreaks along the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina have highlighted the escalating challenge, with millions of dollars required to track and treat those affected, reports MarketWatch.
How Much Does Measles Cost?
A comprehensive review of multiple studies has revealed that the average cost per measles case stands at $43,203. The cost for notifying each contact by a tracer post-exposure is $443. However, as outbreaks expand, the cost per case drops to approximately $16,197.
The current outbreaks in South Carolina have been particularly severe, with health officials confirming 27 new cases in northwestern Spartanburg County between Friday and Tuesday, reports CBS News. In the past two months, 111 individuals have contracted the virus, leading to the quarantine of over 250 people, including students from nine elementary, middle, and high schools.
Similarly, the outbreak in Arizona and Utah has intensified since August. Mohave County in Arizona has reported 172 cases, while the Southwest Utah Public Health Department has documented 82 cases. The border cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, are the most affected. Altogether, Utah has confirmed 115 cases this year, and Arizona 176.
Nationwide, nearly 2,000 measles cases have been reported this year, beginning with a significant outbreak in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma in January. Tragically, three individuals have died, including two Texas schoolchildren.
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Nearly all of the confirmed cases were in individuals who were either not vaccinated or under-vaccinated.
U.S. Could Lose Its Measles Elimination Status if Larger Outbreaks Continue to Occur
The U.S. is now at risk of losing its measles elimination status, a milestone achieved in 2000 when annual cases were reduced to 85 from a staggering 27,808 in 1990, reports ContagionLive. The current situation is exacerbated by the lowest rates of children receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine since at least 2011.
The MMR vaccine, known for its safety and efficacy, is often available at no cost and remains the most effective measure to prevent measles infections. However, the resurgence of measles cases raises critical questions about the U.S. healthcare system’s capacity to manage potentially thousands of cases of this preventable disease each year.
