Measles is “growing global threat,” CDC tells doctors in alert message

Enlarge / A baby with measles. (credit: CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is putting clinicians on alert about the growing risk of measles cases and outbreaks amid a global surge in transmission.

In an outreach message sent Thursday, the CDC told clinicians to look out for patients who have a rash accompanied by a fever and other symptoms of measles, as well as patients who have recently traveled to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks.

Between December 1, 2023, and January 23, 2024, there have been 23 confirmed measles cases in the US, including seven direct importations by international travelers and two outbreaks with more than five cases each, the CDC noted. Most of the cases were in unvaccinated children and teens.