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With the number of confirmed measles cases increasing at an alarming rate, HHS and other federal agencies plead with the public to vaccinate their children.

Statistics: As of April 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its numbers to include 704 confirmed cases across 22 states. “This is an increase of 78 cases from the previous week,” according to the CDC.

The following states have reported cases: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, and Washington.

Last week, Washington State declared its outbreak over; however big city outbreaks seem to be ramping up. “The outbreaks in New York City and New York State are the largest and longest lasting since the measles elimination in 2000. The longer these outbreaks continue the greater the chance that measles will again get a foothold in the United States,” said Nancy Messonnier, MD, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) in a CDC telebriefing.

As part of its National Infant Immunization Week outreach, the feds reminded the nation that vaccinations aren’t harmful. “Vaccinations are safe and have been proven time and again to be effective,” stressed Alex Azar, HHS Secretary in an April 29 release. “We have come a long way in fighting infectious diseases in America, but we risk backsliding and seeing our families, neighbors, and communities needlessly suffer from preventable diseases.”

Reminder: Measles are easily prevented with two doses of the MMR vaccine. The first dose is recommended for infants between 6 and 11 months, with a follow-up booster at least 28 days after the first, the CDC indicates.

Adults born after 1957 but before 1989 may be at risk and need to confirm their vaccination records, according to reports. During that time frame, many adults only received one MMR vaccine instead of two doses. As details emerge about possible ineffective immunizations over that time period, many are worried that they may not be immune to measles.

However, the feds are closely monitoring the situation and promise to ensure “the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine,” Messonnier said. “We’re certainly monitoring for any signs of waning immunity. We don’t see signs of waning immunity yet.”

Tip: Healthcare providers must be at the forefront of educating the public and eradicating measles, recommends Robert Redfield, MD, CDC Director. “I call upon healthcare providers to encourage parents, and expectant parents, to vaccinate their children for their own protection and to avoid the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases within their families and communities.

Resource: Find the CDC’s measles information for healthcare providers at www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html.