Ranking Members Pallone, Green, and DeGette Request Hearing on Measles Outbreak

WASHINGTON – Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr., Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette sent a letter to Chairmen Fred Upton, Joe Pitts, and Tim Murphy requesting a hearing on the current measles outbreak and the importance of vaccinations to prevent the spread of measles. This public health issue returned to public attention last year after an outbreak in Ohio, and a December outbreak that began at Disneyland has led to over 100 measles cases in 14 states and Mexico.

The members wrote that in 2000, fourteen years prior to the current outbreak, "the U.S. was able to eliminate measles because of a highly effective vaccination program and a strong public health system," and that measles' resurgence can likely be traced to "several outbreaks in communities with groups of unvaccinated people." They added that "for the 42 patients for whom vaccination status is known, 34 were unvaccinated and three received partial vaccinations."

The full text of the letter is available below and online here.

February 2, 2015

The Honorable Fred Upton
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Joe Pitts
Chairman
Subcommittee on Health
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Tim Murphy
Chairman
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Upton, Chairman Pitts, and Chairman Murphy:

We are writing to urge you to hold a hearing on the current measles outbreak and the importance of vaccinations to prevent the further spread of measles. The California-centered outbreak, which began at Disneyland in December 2014, has now led to over 100 measles cases in 14 states.[1]

Measles is an infectious disease that is prevalent in many parts of the world. Each year, approximately 20 million are infected worldwide and 122,000 people die due to the disease.[2] Measles is a highly transmissible viral disease. In the decade before the measles vaccine was introduced in the United States, more than three million individuals were infected each year.[3] It is estimated that 90% of people exposed to the disease will be infected unless they have been vaccinated. Since the introduction of the combination MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, there has been a 99% reduction in the number of measles cases, relative to the pre-vaccine era.[4]

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States.[5] Public health experts determined that the U.S. was able to eliminate measles because of a highly effective vaccination program and a strong public health system to detect and respond to outbreaks. However, in 2008, the U.S. experienced several outbreaks in communities with groups of unvaccinated people. [6] And 2014 saw a record number of measles cases, with 644 cases in 27 states, the highest number in the United States since 2000. CDC experts attribute these recent outbreaks to (1) more measles cases than usual in countries Americans travel to, and (2) the spreading of measles in pockets of unvaccinated individuals in the United States.

The current measles outbreak originated at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in December 2014.[7] The outbreak has spread beyond those who visited Disneyland and is infecting people in the broader community. The bulk of the cases are in California, where one in four patients have been hospitalized. There are also several confirmed cases in Arizona, and state public health officials have warned that the outbreak has reached "a critical point."[8] For the 42 patients for whom vaccination status is known, 34 were unvaccinated and three received partial vaccinations.[9] Public health officials have emphasized that vaccination is the most important strategy to prevent measles.[10] They have also advised caution for children under the age of 1 who are too young to be vaccinated.

We urge you to schedule a hearing on this urgent public health matter to prevent the spread of measles. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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Frank Pallone, Jr. Gene Green Diana DeGette
Ranking Member Ranking Member Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Health Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

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