PROVIDENCE, RI – A measles outbreak is spreading across the United States, with over 300 cases now reported in 15 states, including Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus that destroys immune cells and can lead to severe complications – including hearing loss, blindness, and cognitive decline -- and even death.  Once quite common, in 2000 the disease was deemed to be officially ‘eliminated’ in the U.S., defined as the absence of endemic measles virus transmission for more than 12 months.

But now, as the Trump Administration targets federal public health agencies for mass-firings and scientific censorship and weakens disease surveillance, a rash of measles cases is spreading. 

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says the Trump Administration’s short-sighted cuts and mass-firings, promotion of anti-vaccine propaganda, and focus on unproven treatments is making America contagious again.

“We had measles beat, but now the Trump Administration is eroding immunity and making America contagious again. Measles is a dangerous virus and the Trump Administration is bungling the response to this outbreak.  No child should die from this preventable disease.  The Trump Administration can help stop the spread with three easy steps: rehire public health experts, stop spreading misinformation and anti-vaccine sentiments, and encourage people to get immunized,” said Reed.

The successful U.S.-led fight to effectively eradicate measles at home and abroad spared countless children from suffering, long-term health damage, and death.

But now, after Trump’s HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent years systemically stoking anti-vaccination sentiment and lobbying for lax vaccination rules, the disease is creeping back and putting more Americans at risk.  Moreover, it’s not just children in families that opt out of vaccinations who are at risk. Measles is extremely transmissible. Children don’t get their first vaccine dose until after 12 months, and full protection doesn’t kick in until they get their booster, usually between ages 4 and 6. 

Nearly one out of every three children under the age of 5 who catches measles ends up in the hospital, according to healthychildren.org.

“The best way to protect people from measles is to prevent it from circulating.  Through decades of bipartisan and diligent coordinated efforts, America achieved that goal, but now we’re starting to see measles make a comeback.  The Trump Administration has to do a better job.  Public health is a relay race, and HHS Secretary Kennedy -- who has no professional public health expertise or experience -- dropped the baton at HHS and Trump had to withdraw his vaccine skeptic nominee to lead the CDC.  Instead of misleading people and spreading misinformation, this Administration needs to provide parents accurate scientific facts and do a better job when it comes to childhood vaccinations.  Their failure could negatively impact families and children today and lead to future generations being put at increased risk,” said Reed.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, about 97 percent of students entering kindergarten in Rhode Island have received their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot.  Due to the state’s high vaccination rate and herd immunity, a serious measles outbreak is less likely to spread widely in Rhode Island than it a place like Texas that has lower rates of childhood vaccination uptake. 

Doctors say the most effective way to combat the measles is to get vaccinated: It is 97 percent effective in preventing illness. Health officials suggest individuals born between 1963 and 1967 should check with their physician to see if they need to be immunized again.

For more information on measles and childhood vaccinations, talk to your physician and visit the Rhode Island Department of Health website: https://health.ri.gov/diseases/measles