ST. LOUIS — With measles on the rise across the country, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has asked school districts in the state to help prevent a potential outbreak. 

The Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC) has reported 125 measles cases in the U.S. as of March 2024 where 57 were patients under five years old.

There have been less than 10 measles cases reported in Missouri so far this year, according to the CDC. 

The measles vaccination rate among kindergarteners in Missouri has dropped by nearly 5% over the past eight years, according to Missouri School District’s data. 

Religious exemptions have increased by almost 2%. 

Missouri schools have been asked to review student immunization records, offer the measles vaccine and report any cases to the health department.

Among the reported cases across the country this year, more than 90% were linked to international travel and most were among children aged 12 months and older who had not received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to the CDC.  

Both doses of the MMR vaccine provide people with a 97% protection rate throughout their lifetime. One dose provides a 93% protection rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. 

For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the CDC websites.