The number of measles cases in the United States has risen sharply in 2014, with 288 cases reported so far that year, the highest since 2000. More than half of cases have occurred in adults over age 20. Ohio saw the most cases with 138, followed by California with 60 and New York with 26. Many cases have been linked to international travel, including from the Philippines which saw a major outbreak. Public health officials are concerned because some doctors have never seen measles and may not properly diagnose it, potentially allowing the disease to spread further. Vaccination rates have decreased due to some opting out of vaccines, putting those around them at risk. The CDC aims to curb the rise in cases through vaccination programs and recommending all

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Measles Cases in 2014 Soaring
in America
Medical transcription files in America would now
be containing a large number of
measles details. The country is
gradually getting to be the home of
measles cases. Strangely, it does
not seem to be a child thing alone.
The first four months of 2014 have
seen an alarming rise in cases in the US.
When an infection spreads, it isn’t the disease
alone that spreads but the panic as well. The
rise in cases of a particular kind of infection in a
country is a sign that the warning signs have
not been heeded and that things are wrong in
the healthcare front.
Measles Cases Keep Growing in Adults
The number of measles cases is seeing a sharp
rise in America. According to figures by the CDC
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention),
they have increased
to 288 in 2014
alone. This is
reported to be the
greatest since 2000
and also the most of
the initial five

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months in any year since 1994. More than half
the cases are usually reported in adults age 20
or older.
However, in 2014 the kind of people affected by
measles included people as young as two years
of age and as old as 65 years. A large number
of cases also involved people who had traveled
from the Philippines. That country had
witnessed a significant outbreak of measles
earlier in 2014. Ohio with 138 cases ranked the
highest, followed by California at 60 and New
York City at 26.
Measles Unchecked Could Lead to Death
The symptoms of measles are characterized by
cough, fever, rash and pink eye. Though the
symptoms seem pretty pronounced, it seems
that doctors are no longer able to properly
diagnose if measles has set in. Measles vaccine
has been so successful that it is estimated that
clinicians might never have seen measles in
their life and would not be able to comprehend
its features. But this is more dangerous than
curious, since measles untreated could result in
brain infection and pneumonia. These could
cause death. Missed diagnoses could therefore
lead to significant health risks for the
community. Of all the infectious diseases,
measles is among the most contagious.

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With regard to medical billing, physicians can
report measles using the ICD-9 code 055. Other
codes they may have to use when treating
measles are:
055.0 Post measles encephalitis
055.1 Post measles pneumonia
055.2 Post measles otitis media
055.71 - 055.79; 055.7 Measles; with other
specified complications
055.8 Measles complication NOS
055.9 Measles uncomplicated
The ICD-10 code for reporting measles is B05.
Other related codes in this regard are:
B05.0 Measles complicated by encephalitis
B05.1 Measles complicated by meningitis
B05.2 Measles complicated by pneumonia
B05.3 Measles complicated by otitis media
B05.4 Measles with intestinal complications

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B05.81 - B05.89; B05.8 Measles with other
complications
B05.9 Measles without complication
Need for Vaccination
The CDC found that 90% of measles cases in
America involved individuals who were either
not vaccinated or who had unknown vaccination
status. If anyone does not like being
vaccinated, they pose a serious health threat to
themselves and those around them since they
are really susceptible to measles outbreaks
when the disease is brought in from another
country. The CPT code to be used to signify
measles vaccine is:
90705 - Measles virus vaccine, live, for
subcutaneous use
Those opting out of vaccination are probably the
greatest cause to blame. People often think
measles is a childhood disease and vaccination
needs to be done only then. Even Mayo Clinic
describes it likewise, while the WHO website
says that measles “affects mostly children”. But
the vast number of cases in America involves
adults. 85% of Americans who were affected by
measles as a result of opting out of vaccination
cited various personal and even religious

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reasons for failing to get themselves
immunized. They think there will be enough
people who get vaccinated, which would
prevent the infection from spreading.
Unfortunately, everyone else also thinks that
way which severely decreases the strength of
the vaccinated community.
CDC’s Steps to Put Measles in Check
2005 was the last time a measles death was
reported in the US. The Vaccines for Children
program of the CDC could be credited for the
increased immunization rates and the
corresponding decrease in measles. Half of all
American children under the age of 19 can sign
up for the program. For parents who cannot
afford, vaccines are provided free of cost. The
CDC claims that vaccinations have been quite
successful in America and have resulted in the
prevention of around 323 million measles cases
as well as 732,000 deaths. But now, with rising
number of cases, there is a risk of more deaths.
Vaccine Dosage for Kids
The CDC-recommended dosage for kids is two
measles vaccine doses starting at 12 months
and the next dose between 4 years and 6 years
of age. Infants between 6 and 11 months of age
need to be vaccinated if they will be traveling

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overseas. Measles vaccines have also got to be
up to date. The CDC has given the
recommendation that all American residents
who were born after 1956 must get themselves
checked whether they are yet immune to
measles. If not immune, they should get
themselves a fresh MMR vaccination. This must
be followed particularly if they travel outside of
the Americas.
With these measures, CDC and authorities hope
that the measles cases would not keep growing
in America.