Measles Outbreak: US Struggles, Singapore's High Vaccination Rate Prevents Similar Crisis

Measles Outbreak in US Highlights Vaccination Importance: Singapore's High Vaccination Rate Offers Contrast The United States is grappling with a measles outbreak, exceeding 1,000 cases since April 2025—a significant increase from 285 cases in 2024. This surge, impacting the US and parts of Europe, has prompted health concerns globally. Experts attribute the outbreak to vaccination rates falling below the critical 95% threshold. Professor Ooi Eng Eong, from Duke-NUS Medical School, explains, "Because measles is so infectious, the only way to stop measles is to vaccinate the population." The video underscores measles' extreme contagiousness, with one infected person potentially infecting 15 others, leading to rapid spread. Furthermore, measles causes immune suppression, impacting the body's ability to remember past infections. This contrasts sharply with Singapore, where over 90% of the population has received two doses of the MMR vaccine, and over 95% at least one dose, effectively preventing a similar outbreak. The video also highlights the role of misinformation, specifically the debunked claim linking MMR vaccines to autism, in contributing to lower vaccination rates in the US. Singapore's success serves as a model for effective public health strategies in combating highly contagious diseases.