by Moe Ellis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Health confirmed a travel-related case of measles in Little Rock at UAMS in early 2018, resulting in the first Arkansas diagnosis of the vaccine-preventable disease in three years.
Measles was thought to be eradicated in 2000 but has made a comeback in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data that shows 349 cases were reported in 2018, making it a near record-breaking year–the second worst in two decades. Arkansas was one of the 26 states being monitored by the CDC..
Authorities within the CDC attribute the outbreak to an increase in parents opting out of vaccinating their kids. The number of unvaccinated children jumped from 0.9% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2015. Arkansas is one of eighteen states that allows parents to decide if their child receives the vaccination.
Because of the highly contagious nature of the disease, it can be hard to control. One or two of every 1,000 children with the disease die from complications, according to the CDC.
The World Health Organization says a 30% global increase in cases of measles has been reported.
Symptoms for measles include fever, sore throat, and skin rashes made of large, flat blotches.