Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pushed for an emergency alert about the dangers of measles during pregnancy, but the notice was not given approval, according to The Washington Post.
The Post reported the development on Friday, describing the effort by agency scientists to issue a rapid warning. The report does not detail who blocked the alert or the reasons given.
The disclosure comes as medical publications are drawing fresh attention to measles in expectant mothers and their babies. The Atlantic reported that doctors are seeing a rise in a rare form of the disease, while Contemporary Pediatrics published an FAQ for clinicians on congenital measles — infection passed from a mother to her baby.
Measles is a highly contagious virus, and the reporting points to pregnancy as a particular area of concern for clinicians. The three reports together suggest growing professional focus on how the disease affects pregnant women and infants.
The Post's account leaves central questions unanswered, including the content of the proposed alert and the stage at which it stalled. CYBEV.io has not independently verified the report and is relying on The Washington Post's account.
What to watch next: whether the CDC comments publicly on the proposed alert, and whether clinicians' groups issue their own guidance on measles in pregnancy.
