Measles

Beliefs about the safety of the measles vaccine and the threat of the disease are sharply polarized. About two-thirds of Republican-leaning parents are unaware of an uptick in measles cases this year, while about two-thirds of Democratic ones knew about it, according to a new survey.

The state's vaccination rates have been on the decline for years, with overall measles protection below the 95% rate needed for herd immunity.

Immunization efforts across the country were upended after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly canceled $11.4 billion in Covid-related funds for state and local health departments in late March.

It is the only state that no longer collects immunization reports from local schools, creating a data gap for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State lawmakers are considering a bill to undo the policy.

Leaders at the Cobb and Douglas Public Health department continue to express caution about respiratory, vaccine-preventable diseases.

Members of the public who visited the Cohen Children’s Medical Center last week may have been exposed to measles.

With measles cases on the rise nationally, NYC public health experts are encouraging vaccination against the disease.

Children and adults who live near high-traffic areas are disproportionately exposed to air pollution, putting them at greater risk for respiratory conditions.

DOGE abruptly cut funding to a 9/11 first responder health program — only to reverse its decision days later.

Health officials expect the outbreak to worsen because of low vaccine rates and undetected infections. Vaccine misinformation and new laws may make such situations more common and harder to contain.

Dr. Roy Benaroch explains how measles can spread, what short-term and long-term effects measles can have on children, and what steps parents can take to keep their kids and communities healthy.

Dr. Mark Griffiths, an Atlanta pediatrician, said he has seen flu cases rising in children of all ages.

Public health practitioners warn such outbreaks will become more common because of scores of laws around the United States — pending and passed — that ultimately lower vaccine rates.

A local health department epidemiologist said the state has identified over 300 people exposed to measles from the initial case.

The first metro Atlanta case was reported in someone who had been traveling within the United States. Now two relatives have the measles.

The person wasn’t vaccinated against the virus and had been traveling within the United States, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Many states have recently reported an increase in people opting out of vaccines for their kids as Americans’ views shift.

When Carter started his NGO after leaving the White House, he reached out to Dr. Bill Foege, known for his role in leading the eradication of smallpox, to run it.

Inoculation campaigns that protect children and adults from dangerous diseases rely on a delicate web of state and federal laws and programs. If senior officials cast doubt on vaccine safety, the whole system might collapse, especially in red states.

Dr. Alicia Fry of the Task Force for Global Health in Decatur says the key tool of prevention is the same everywhere — access to immunization.