Measles cases in the United States have increased by almost 20% in early April, the …

(Adds information about cases around the world)

April 15 (Reuters) – The number of confirmed measles cases in the United States rose nearly 20 percent this year, during the week ended April 11, the country's second-worst epidemic for nearly 20 years. years, announced Monday federal officials of health.

As of April 11, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had recorded 555 cases of the disease since the beginning of the year, against 465 confirmed April 4. These cases have been reported in 20 states of the country.

The measles virus is highly contagious and can lead to life-threatening complications, especially in children. The CDC report does not say if there were any deaths.

The American epidemic is part of a global increase. The World Health Organization reported Monday that the number of cases worldwide had almost quadrupled in the first quarter of 2019, to 112,163 compared to the same period last year.

In the United States, an increasing number of parents are opposed to measles vaccines, believing, contrary to scientific evidence, that the ingredients contained in the vaccines can cause autism or other disorders.

The United States reported that measles was eliminated from the country in 2000, meaning that the virus was no longer present throughout the year. But epidemics still occur every year, usually when unvaccinated people arrive in the country from areas of the world where the disease is still common.

The city of New York has registered at least 285 cases of measles since October, according to local health authorities, a large majority among members of orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the outbreak was a public health emergency last week and ordered unvaccinated people living in the affected areas of Brooklyn to be vaccinated or fined. This is the worst epidemic seen in the city since 1991, said the mayor.

Most cases in Brooklyn involve children. Several people had to be hospitalized but no deaths had been reported last week.

Health officials in New York City said that the Brooklyn outbreak was caused by an unvaccinated child returning from a trip to Israel, which was also battling an outbreak.

Health officials said they saw anti-vaccination leaflets containing inaccurate information distributed in the affected areas of Brooklyn.

Another epidemic has affected orthodox Jewish families in Rockland County, New York. Last month, the authorities banned children who were not vaccinated against measles.

This decision was overturned by a state judge, who appealed the decision of Rockland officials. (Report by Tamara Mathias to Bengaluru and Jonathan Allen in New York, edited by Anil D & Silva and Bill Trott)

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