[ad_1]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed 228 cases of measles in 12 states since the beginning of the year.
The CDC has identified six outbreaks, which it defines as three or more cases, in New York, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and California.
The cases are linked to unvaccinated US travelers reporting measles to the US from other countries where severe measles outbreaks occur, such as Israel and Ukraine, the CDC says.
Epidemics have focused on states with lax vaccine exemption laws. Each state requires that children have certain vaccinations before they enter school, but most allow exemptions for religious or personal beliefs.
Public health officials attribute the spread of misinformation online and on social media to the risks and effectiveness of vaccines. The CDC believes that MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, is safe and effective.
The number of measles cases up to now in 2019 is expected to surpass previous years.
The CDC confirmed 372 cases of measles in 2018. The highest number of cases since 2010, the year in which the disease was considered eliminated in the United States, was recorded in 2014, with 667 cases reported.
[ad_2]
Source link