“Measles vaccination rates in the United States have declined since 2019, putting more people at risk of illness, disability, and death,” Jesse Ehrenfeld, president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement last week. ” he said.

Measles is caused by a virus that lodges in the nose and throat and is easily spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. This can spread infectious droplets into the air, which others can inhale. In the early stages of infection, symptoms often include a mild fever, persistent cough, runny nose, sore throat, and watery eyes.

Usually after a few days the fever increases and red spots or bumps appear. It usually first appears on the face, then a patchy red rash that appears over most of the body and lasts about a week. Complications from measles infection can include dehydration, ear infections, inflammation and swelling of the airways (known as croup), and lung infections (pneumonia).

In the United States, most children are vaccinated against measles in childhood, with two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine administered between 12 and 15 months of age, and again at 4 to 6 years of age. Vaccination provides lifelong protection.

However, Ehrenfeld said, “Reductions in measles vaccination threaten to undo years of progress by eliminating recurrences of previously vaccine-preventable diseases.”

“Approximately 250,000 kindergarteners are at risk of measles infection” due to lower vaccination rates in the 2022-2023 school year, he said.

This article is part of the Post’s “Big Number” series, which briefly examines the statistical aspects of health issues. Additional information and related research is available via hyperlinks.