ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — The worldwide surge in measles cases is causing major concern -- especially for children.
New estimates show more than 140-thousand people have died from measles globally in 2018. Most of those who died were children under five.
"Recently, we've had some measles outbreaks and I've had parents asking me about traveling with newborns," said Dr. Keith Mull, a pediatrician with the SSM Health Medical Group in St. Charles. "I really suggested that they be extremely cautious -- not only when they are in affected countries -- but also on the flight there and back -- when transmission is quite easy."
In the small Pacific island nation of Samoa, the death toll has now topped 62 in the latest flare of up of the measles -- with more than four thousand cases.
The best form of prevention, Dr. Mull tells KMOX, is to get the vaccine -- to protect yourself, and all those around you -- especially infants who cannot get the vaccine. It's all about what's called herd immunity.
"So if everyone has the measles vaccine, the newborn is better protected," said Dr. Mull. "Theoretically, those individuals would not get the measles and then that means less illness -- less measles exposure -- to the newborn."
Because of maternal antibodies, the CDC recommends the first of two measles vaccines not be given until a child is between 12 and 15 months old. But recent studies have now shown that the measles immunity passed from mother to baby may erode quicker than long believed.
"Those new moms who had gotten the actual illness, their infants seem to have more antibodies -- more protection -- than those who had just received the vaccine -- their antibodies are less," said Dr. Mull. "That translates into if there is a lower amount of antibody in their system, it doesn't last as long because eventually all of mom's antibodies will have faded away from the infant. It's just in those that have the natural immunity of having already had the measles, the antibodies will be higher and last longer."
The CDC's Dr. Robert Linkins says vaccines save lives -- with the CDC estimating that over the last 18 years, measles vaccines alone have saved more than 23 million people from dying.
This year, the United States is seeing measles outbreaks throughout the country -- so many in fact, the U.S. almost lost its measles elimination status.