The (CDC) has intensified its recommendations for summer camps to verify measles immunity among all participants, including children, staff, and volunteers. This directive comes in response to a concerning rise in measles cases across the United States, which are approaching record levels not seen since 2019 . The CDC's guidance underscores the importance of ensuring that all individuals involved in summer camp activities possess adequate proof of vaccination or documentation of prior infection. Such measures are crucial to mitigate the risk of outbreaks within these communal settings.
As measles cases close to record levels in isolated areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging summer camps to check for documentation of immunity through vaccination or prior infection for all children.
“I think there has been increased concerns about potential for additional outbreaks and spread, especially in the setting of waning or lowering rates of immunizations,” said Dr. Alexandra Yonts, a pediatric infectious diseases physician and assistant professor of pediatrics at Children’s National Hospital. “Nine out of every 10 folks who are unimmunized will get measles when exposed to someone who is actively ill.”
The CDC said in a release, measles can spread quickly because campers and staff spend a lot of time in close proximity to each other.
In West Texas, where outbreaks are concentrated, the city of Lubbock hasn’t seen a new case in 20 days, said Katherine Wells, public health director for the city. The area is east of the largest Texas outbreaks, which were centered on a Mennonite community with religious objections to vaccination.
Wells attributed the recent success to a combination of more vaccinations, public awareness campaigns and willingness to stay home when sick to avoid transmission.
“I talked to some people who, because there’s so much information about the risk of vaccines and the bad side effects, I can see from a parent’s perspective, ‘Why would I give my child that?’” Wells said. “Now they’ve seen measles in their community, so now they’re thinking, ‘OK, now I’m going to get vaccinated.’”
The agency also recently stepped up its warning about the risk of catching measles while traveling. The new guidance followed dozens of cases of travelers infectious while flying on airplanes within the U.S., and a suspected case of spread during air travel.
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