Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #112

[otto]

Measles cases reach highest point since the disease was eliminated in U.S. in 2000

An outbreak in West Texas that spread to several other states drove the case counts up substantially.

www.nbcnews.com

Measles cases in the United States are the highest they’ve been since the country eliminated the disease in 2000. The U.S. has reported 1,277 cases since the start of the year, according to NBC News’ tally of state health department data.

Earlier this year, the U.S. also recorded its first measles deaths in a decade: two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico. All were unvaccinated.

For the past 25 years, measles has been considered eliminated in the U.S. because it has not continuously spread over a yearlong period...

That number is awfully low. Canada has 1/10th the population, and many more measles cases.

Measles and Rubella Weekly Monitoring Report — Canada.ca

Weekly surveillance reports and monitoring maps for measles and rubella. Data are updated every Monday.

health-infobase.canada.ca

 

[otto]

Is the US accurately reporting measles cases? According to research, disease and attitudes about disease prevention is spread across borders, with social media as a major influence against disease control. The numbers in the US should be 10 times Canadian numbers - logically speaking.

"We've had a decades-long relationship with the Centers for Disease Control and other organizations in the States," said co-author Dr. Shannon Charlebois, a family physician and CMAJ's medical editor. "As those are dismantled, we're not going to have our early warning systems." For example, when the mpox virus broke out in the U.S., Charlebois said the CDC formally notified the Public Health Agency of Canada.

This comes, the authors say, as a "crisis of communicable diseases is unfolding in North America," pointing to increasing rates of syphilis and HIV in Canada, along with measles outbreaks and livestock culls due to avian influenza.
[...]

"People living in Canada are vulnerable to a cross-border bleed of not only microorganisms, but also of attitudes, health misinformation and exposure to biased U.S. media," the authors wrote.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cmaj-editorial-canada-us-cuts-surveillance-1.7577992

 

[gremlin444]

Is the US accurately reporting measles cases? According to research, disease and attitudes about disease prevention is spread across borders, with social media as a major influence against disease control. The numbers in the US should be 10 times Canadian numbers - logically speaking.

I think we all know the answer to that. Especially in areas of Texas. As new cases pop up now, the accuracy with which they are being reported is probably higher than it was in first 4-5 months of the SW/Texas outbreak.

CDC says measles cases are most likely underreported as outbreak swells in Texas

The leader of the CDC’s measles team said the agency was “scraping” to find resources to address an outbreak in the Southwest.

www.nbcnews.com

"CDC says measles cases are most likely underreported as outbreak swells in Texas"​

“We do believe that there’s quite a large amount of cases that are not reported and underreported,” Sugerman said Tuesday as he updated the committee on measles. “In working very closely with our colleagues in Texas; in talking with families, they may mention prior cases that have recovered and never received testing, other families that may have cases and never sought treatment.”

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

As measles, whooping cough cases surge in Michigan, state health officials urge vaccinations

Whooping cough cases jumped from 110 in 2023 to 2,000 in 2024. Experts urged parents at a roundtable Wednesday to keep their kids up to date on vaccinations.

www.detroitnews.com

Michigan health officials and doctors on Wednesday again urged parents to keep their children up to date on routine immunizations as diseases like measles and whooping cough surge in the state.

Eighteen cases of measles have been detected in Michigan this year, the most since an outbreak of measles in Oakland County in 2019, said Ryan Malosh, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Immunization.

The state has also seen 855 cases of pertussis ― also known as whooping cough ― so far this year, including 152 in children less than two years old. In 2024, there were over 2,000 cases of whooping cough in Michigan, a 1,700% increase since 2023 when there were 110 cases...

 

[Deleted member 367982]

My doctor in Western Australia has warned me about the increase of people having shingles since the outbreak of COVID in 2019 and advised that I get two jabs of the vaccine.
Is that the same in other parts of the world?

 

[Lilibet]

My doctor in Western Australia has warned me about the increase of people having shingles since the outbreak of COVID in 2019 and advised that I get two jabs of the vaccine.
Is that the same in other parts of the world?

I think two doses of Shingrix is pretty standard.

Shingles Vaccine Recommendations

Find routine recommendations and timing considerations for the shingles vaccine.

www.cdc.gov

 

[IceIce9]

My doctor in Western Australia has warned me about the increase of people having shingles since the outbreak of COVID in 2019 and advised that I get two jabs of the vaccine.
Is that the same in other parts of the world?

Shingrex is a 2-dose vaccination. The second vaccination is usually given 2-6 months after the first.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/07/09/vaccine-waiver-rates-rise-michigan-as-full-vaccinations-dip-state-data/84154956007/

The number of Michigan students with vaccine waivers has nearly doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic as the percentage of children who get all their recommended vaccines has decreased, two trends health officials fear could make kids more susceptible to infectious disease outbreaks.

A Detroit News analysis of provisional 2024 data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services showed more than 21,800, or about 6.2%, of more than 353,000 total kindergarteners, seventh graders and students who entered a new school district got waivers, exempting at least one required vaccine last year.

About 3.4% of the more than 338,000 total students in those three groups received waivers in 2020, according to data from a state health department report.

Total waivers have increased over 90% since 2020, when about 11,400 waivers were received, to more than 21,800 in 2024. The number of students in these groups has increased about 4% in that period...

 

[IceIce9]

I received a letter from my health insurance (Blue Cross) about the measles cases. The letter advised checking to see if my measles vaccination was up to date, and provided resources for obtaining measles vaccination if needed.

 

[Deleted member 367982]

I received a letter from my health insurance (Blue Cross) about the measles cases. The letter advised checking to see if my measles vaccination was up to date, and provided resources for obtaining measles vaccination if needed.

My doctor was suggesting there is a rise in shingles cases because of the injections many get against COVID.
I wonder if Blue Cross is suggesting measles (which is different to shingles) is also on the rise and if so is that related to a weaker immunity since COVID started?
Are there any other viruses that have spiked since COVID?

 

[Gemmie]

My doctor was suggesting there is a rise in shingles cases because of the injections many get against COVID.
I wonder if Blue Cross is suggesting measles (which is different to shingles) is also on the rise and if so is that related to a weaker immunity since COVID started?
Are there any other viruses that have spiked since COVID?

I think what's important is where the doctors, who are suggesting things like shingles cases are on the rise due to getting Covid vaccines, are getting their information from. I'm putting my money on it being misinformation that's being spread which is NOT helping ANY of us IMO! If I'm wrong, I'd love to see a reputable source of that info (CDC, WHO, etc).

JMO!

 

[IceIce9]

My doctor was suggesting there is a rise in shingles cases because of the injections many get against COVID.
I wonder if Blue Cross is suggesting measles (which is different to shingles) is also on the rise and if so is that related to a weaker immunity since COVID started?
Are there any other viruses that have spiked since COVID?

Measles was all but eradicated in the United States back in the year 2000. But there have been outbreaks of measles among children in several states, including the state where I live. Nearly all of the children who have had measles are unvaccinated.

Adults, especially those with weekend immune systems, are at risk of developing measles themselves if they are around children.

 

[mickey2942]

I received a letter from my health insurance (Blue Cross) about the measles cases. The letter advised checking to see if my measles vaccination was up to date, and provided resources for obtaining measles vaccination if needed.

I am getting one at Costco. I got one, probably in 1963? 65? When the measles vaccine was not live. So they are not good.

Should You Get a Measles Vaccine Booster?

As cases increase in some places, a Yale Medicine specialist reviews the groups, including some adults, who should get vaccinated.

www.yalemedicine.org

 

[IceIce9]

As of July 8, 2025, a total of 1,288 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 39 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

Measles Cases and Outbreaks

Find the latest numbers of confirmed U.S. measles cases. CDC updates this page weekly.

www.cdc.gov

 

[IceIce9]

I am getting one at Costco. I got one, probably in 1963? 65? When the measles vaccine was not live. So they are not good.

Should You Get a Measles Vaccine Booster?

As cases increase in some places, a Yale Medicine specialist reviews the groups, including some adults, who should get vaccinated.

www.yalemedicine.org

The hospitals I have worked in over the years always drew blood on employees for titers to check our immunity to measles, hepatitis B, and a few others. My measles titer results were always in range, which meant I still had immunity against measles even though i had never had another vaccination after age 5.

 

[meanmaryjean]

I think what's important is where the doctors, who are suggesting things like shingles cases are on the rise due to getting Covid vaccines, are getting their information from. I'm putting my money on it being misinformation that's being spread which is NOT helping ANY of us IMO! If I'm wrong, I'd love to see a reputable source of that info (CDC, WHO, etc).

JMO!

Except most of those sources (excepting WHO- they are reliable because they are not under US government control) are being compromised as the days go by. The American Academy of Pediatrics has banded together with several other organizations to sue HHS and provide its own reliable guidance in the absence of common sense in the federal agencies. And for me- I am taking advice from the people who actually treat sick people, not a bunch of sycophant grifters. Here's one of the articles from AAP: https://publications.aap.org/aapnew...ish-its-own-vaccine?autologincheck=redirected

 

[IceIce9]

I am getting one at Costco. I got one, probably in 1963? 65? When the measles vaccine was not live. So they are not good.

Should You Get a Measles Vaccine Booster?

As cases increase in some places, a Yale Medicine specialist reviews the groups, including some adults, who should get vaccinated.

www.yalemedicine.org

My mom came down with measles when I was five years old. I don’t remember too much about it, but my brother and I had to get an extra shot that the doctor had said hopefully would protect us from measles even though we had had all of our regular childhood vaccinations, including measles.

I do remember that my mom was very sick, and unable to take care of us kids for several weeks. My dad hired a nanny to take care of us and I remember we weren’t even allowed to go in our mother‘s bedroom until she recovered fully.

 

[mickey2942]

My mom came down with measles when I was five years old. I don’t remember too much about it, but my brother and I had to get an extra shot that the doctor had said hopefully would protect us from measles even though we had had all of our regular childhood vaccinations, including measles.

I do remember that my mom was very sick, and unable to take care of us kids for several weeks. My dad hired a nanny to take care of us and I remember we weren’t even allowed to go in our mother‘s bedroom until she recovered fully.

I got Chicken Pox when my kids were little. I don't know how I never got it as a child. 34 years old. 4 kids, and Chicken Pox! The kids didn't get it from me, they were all vaccinated for it. (The irony).

I couldn't pick up the baby, it was too painful. I was so sick my Mom had to come take care of everything.

 

[AStartoSteerBy]

I think what's important is where the doctors, who are suggesting things like shingles cases are on the rise due to getting Covid vaccines, are getting their information from. I'm putting my money on it being misinformation that's being spread which is NOT helping ANY of us IMO! If I'm wrong, I'd love to see a reputable source of that info (CDC, WHO, etc).

JMO!

It's true that there is a lot of misinformation, rumor, and fear. The medical studies are ongoing. There's still much to understand. Immunity is amazingly complex.

While it's generally true that booster vaccinations are recommended, there's specific situations where studies suggest that for certain individuals (immunocompromised) frequent mRNA vaccinations don't have the expected benefit.
So, there are cases where it might make sense not to get booster mRNA vaccinations. A medical professional's advice about the benefits and risks for vaccination ideally takes into account individual variables.

Here are two of hundreds articles from research journals with discussions about the issues with mRNA vaccine boosters that medical providers might consider when making recommendations to their patients.

Clin Exp Med. 2024 Jan 27;24(1):23. doi: 10.1007/s10238-023-01264-1 mRNA vaccine boosters and impaired immune system response in immune compromised individuals: a narrative review Alberto Boretti
"Multiple doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may result in much higher levels of IgG 4 antibodies, or also impaired activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. The opportunity for mRNA vaccine boosters to impair the immune system response needs careful consideration..."
"A considerable body of evidence indicates a correlation, and some recent studies even suggest causation, highlighting the potential for mRNA COVID-19 boosters to have adverse effects on the immune system. This is particularly relevant in the case of immunocompromised individuals where the overall cost-to-benefit ratio may lean toward the negative."

Redirecting
"High IgG4 antibody levels generated in response to repeated inoculation with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines could be associated with a higher mortality rate from unrelated diseases and infections by suppressing the immune system."

 

[Sundog]

The hospitals I have worked in over the years always drew blood on employees for titers to check our immunity to measles, hepatitis B, and a few others. My measles titer results were always in range, which meant I still had immunity against measles even though i had never had another vaccination after age 5.

My doctor said that he would order a blood test for me to check for titers but didn't think I needed the measles vaccine due to immunity. I had the measles, mumps and german measles as a child, so should have immunity, but will get the blood test to be sure.