US faces resurgence of measles cases as vaccination rates decline study

Los Angeles: The United States may be on the brink of a major measles resurgence as vaccination rates continue to fall across several states, accordin...

Los Angeles: The United States may be on the brink of a major measles resurgence as vaccination rates continue to fall across several states, according to a new study published Thursday.

A team of Stanford University researchers used a simulation model to assess the importation and dynamic spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases across 50 US states and the District of Columbia.

The model evaluated scenarios with different vaccination rates over a 25-year period.

At current vaccination levels, the model projects that measles could regain endemic status in the United States, potentially resulting in approximately 851,300 cases over the next 25 years, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

If vaccination rates were to decline by 10 percent, the study estimates the country could see 11.1 million measles cases over the same time period.