Measles Cases Surge as Experts Point to Misinformation Concerns

Measles cases are on the rise across New York state, with 35 confirmed infections reported this year, according to state health officials. Medical experts attribute this troubling uptick primarily to declining vaccination rates, raising concerns about public health risks.

The New York State Department of Health recently issued an alert encouraging residents to verify their vaccination status as cases continue to emerge. Health authorities warn that without proper immunization, communities face increased vulnerability to this highly contagious disease.

“Unfortunately, with more folks opting out of the vaccine across the country, we’re seeing cases rise,” said Dr. Steven Schulz, Rochester Regional Health’s ambulatory pediatric service line division head. “The scary part about it is there’s really no treatment.”

This resurgence of measles represents a significant shift from recent decades when the disease had been largely contained through widespread vaccination programs. Before the measles vaccine became widely available in the 1960s, the disease infected millions of Americans annually, causing thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths each year.

Dr. Geoffrey Weinberg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at UR Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital, points to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation as key factors behind the current situation. Many parents mistakenly believe that measles no longer poses a threat because it has become rare in the United States.

“One of the common conceptions of parents is we don’t need the vaccine any longer, because the disease isn’t around,” Weinberg explained. “And it isn’t around precisely because vaccines are so good.”

Measles remains one of the most contagious viruses known to science. The pathogen can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, and approximately 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus will contract the disease. Symptoms typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash that spreads across the body.

The standard protection against measles comes through the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, which health officials recommend administering in two doses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first dose is typically given to children between 12 and 15 months of age, with a second dose between ages 4 and 6.

“One shot provides almost 95% protection against the disease, while two doses can increase the efficacy by up to 98%,” Weinberg noted. This high rate of protection has historically allowed communities to maintain “herd immunity,” protecting those who cannot receive vaccines due to age or medical conditions.

However, vaccination rates have declined in various parts of the country in recent years. Some states have more permissive policies regarding exemptions from school immunization requirements, which Weinberg pointed out contributes to regional variations in vaccination coverage. “Health care is also regulated by states, and immunization is not legislated for all,” he said.

Public health officials worry that continued erosion of vaccination rates could lead to larger and more frequent outbreaks. Measles can cause serious complications, particularly in young children, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.

Both Schulz and Weinberg emphasized that parents should consult with healthcare providers about vaccination decisions rather than relying on unverified information from social media or non-medical sources.

“Getting the disease is always worse than whatever side effects somebody has theorized about the vaccine,” Weinberg stressed. Decades of research have consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine, with serious adverse reactions being extremely rare.

As health officials monitor the situation, they continue to emphasize that widespread vaccination remains the most effective strategy for preventing further outbreaks. “Vaccines are so good, but they haven’t been 100% perfect,” Weinberg concluded. “And the less we use the vaccines, the more the infections come back.”