Amid an uptick in measles cases nationwide, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health is sounding the alarm for its residents to remain vigilant. According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, there has been a surge in measles infections, rising from four outbreaks and 59 cases in 2023 on the mainland to 16 outbreaks and 285 cases in 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 301 cases have already been confirmed across 15 states as of this year. Compounding the crisis, Hawaiʻi's vaccination rates are below the national average, with notable pockets reporting rates under 75%.
The situation is complicated further because exposed to travel-related cases, the risk of a measles outbreak is higher in Hawaiʻi due to the low vaccination rates and the virus's high level of contagion. Once someone is infected with measles, the measles virus can still be spread by them up to four days before they even show symptoms, as reported by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. Moreover, the virus can linger airborne and infectious for two hours after an infected person has vacated a space.
Vaccination is crucial with a highly contagious virus like measles, and for herd immunity, at least 95% of the community needs to be inoculated. Coming in at 90% for 2023-2024 school year kindergartners, Hawaiʻi's MMR vaccination rate lags behind, falling short of the benchmark set to prevent outbreaks. With areas notably below the state average, such as parts of Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, and without a pediatric intensive care unit in any neighbor island hospital, these communities could face excessive strain in the event of an outbreak, as stated by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Symptoms of measles typically start showing 7-14 days after exposure and include a high fever with a cough and red, watery eyes, eventually progressing to a red rash. Serious complications can arise from measles, like pneumonia and encephalitis with a 1 in 5 hospitalization rate for unvaccinated people who get infected. It is a danger to vulnerable populations including young children, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised, delineated by Governor Josh Green, M.D. In a statement, he highlighted, "measles is a serious, highly contagious disease, and cases are rising worldwide." He also stressed that "Prevention is the best cure," emphasizing vaccination as the most effective mechanism, as per the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Responding to the threat, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health issued a medical advisory on March 11, urging healthcare providers to zero in on identifying and reporting measles cases and making sure patients are up to date with the MMR vaccination. The advisory is particularly relevant for those planning international travel. If measles is suspected, the Department advises contacting healthcare providers before visiting in-person to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus in clinical settings. They urge all residents, especially parents, to ensure their children's immunizations are current. For more measles and vaccination details, Hawaiʻi Department of Health recommends visiting their official website.
