Ga. officials warn of measles misinformation as cases spread
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Health officials are raising alarms over the spread of misinformation amid a growing measles outbreak across the United States, with Georgia falling short of herd immunity thresholds.
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 900 confirmed measles cases across at least 25 states, including three deaths. The disease, once largely eliminated in the U.S., is resurging due in part to declining vaccination rates.
Georgia’s measles vaccination rate lags behind the national average and below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity, making the state vulnerable to widespread transmission.
“Measles is essentially the most contagious infectious disease that we look at,” said Dr. Peter Kasson, a professor at Georgia Tech. “It’s maybe eight or nine times more contagious than COVID.”
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The measles virus is extremely infectious. According to the CDC, one infected person can transmit the disease to nine out of 10 nearby unvaccinated people. The two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection.
Initial symptoms often resemble the common cold – fever, cough, and runny nose – before escalating to a rash and, in severe cases, complications such as brain swelling, which can impair cognitive function.
Charmayne Hutchins, a Georgia mother, said she was initially hesitant to vaccinate her youngest son after her oldest was diagnosed with autism.
“I was very concerned that the vaccinations played a big part in that,” Hutchins said. “So I spread out the vaccinations for my second child. He’s been doing well and is actually going to skip a grade.”
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A new study from the nonprofit organization KFF found that 6 in 10 adults say they’ve heard about the false link between autism and the MMR vaccine, with around 25% of adults believing it to be true or having some truth behind it, according to their survey.
Kasson said misinformation has contributed to vaccine hesitancy.
“There are no antibiotics for measles,” Kasson said. “What we’re doing is very high-tech chicken soup to try to people through the infection.”
Georgia law requires children attending nursery schools, daycare facilities, and pre-kindergarten programs to be vaccinated, with some exemptions. However, only 64.3% of Georgia’s 2-year-olds have received all recommended vaccine doses, a rate that continues to decline annually.
Health officials urge families to ensure their vaccinations are up to date as the number of measles cases continues to climb.
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