CDC Confirms More Measles Cases

Based on current US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tallies, the number of measles infections in 2015 has increased from 84 cases reported late last Friday to 102 cases reported today.

Infections have only been confirmed in 14 states, though 92% of cases this year have been tied to the late December 2014 measles outbreak, the CDC said. States reporting measles cases include Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

In New York, a Bard College student has been isolated due to a confirmed measles infection, according to a January 30, 2015, statement from the college. The statement further directed concerned students to the college’s health services office.

The student allegedly traveled on an Amtrak train originating in Penn Station and that travels through the state to Albany, USA Today reports. The case has not been tied to the California measles outbreak.

Pennsylvania also has a confirmed case of measles that has not been linked to southern California. The patient may have exposed the virus to individuals at Walmart, an urgent care center, and a hospital, according to Pennsylvania public health officials.

In Illinois, public health officials confirmed measles in a Cook County resident who became ill in mid-January. The county and state departments of public health are conducting contact tracing and informing potential contacts of exposure, the state department of public health said in a January 27, 2015, statement. Illinois health officials have not yet identified a link to California, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, in Washington, health officials have tied potential exposures to 2 travelers who visited southern California. One patient traveled to the state’s Sea-Tac airport and then visited public areas in King and Snohomish counties, the public health department stated. The second traveler was an unvaccinated resident who also visited southern California.

California’s health department has not released the number of potential exposures in the state.