Measles and the Multiplier Effect

Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the measles outbreak in the US has grown to 121 cases in 17 states, and 85% of those cases are likely linked to one traveler who became infected overseas and then visited an amusement park in California where it began to spread.

Measles is a highly contagious disease—more contagious than Ebola—that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This picture illustrates how fast measles can spread from one person.

Those at risk of developing a serious case of measles and complications are our most vulnerable members of society – babies too young to receive vaccines and people with compromised immunity (ie, people with other serious illnesses who cannot receive the vaccine.)  

When you get a vaccine, you are not only helping to protect yourself, but also those who can’t. Every year, millions of deaths are prevented and hundreds of children are saved from disabilities through vaccination.

For more information on how vaccines work, visit www.cdc.gov.