US health authorities warn of measles outbreak in northwestern – Xinhua

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) – US public health officials have expressed concern over the recent measles outbreak in the northwestern part of the country, citing low vaccination rates in the region.

The number of confirmed cases in the state of Washington rose to 36 on Monday, while the Oregon Health Authority confirmed a case in a nearby county-afflicted county of Washington, DC, whose rate vaccination is well below the required level, reported by local media.

"The Washington State Department of Health reminds people to take precautions to prevent the spread of measles from spreading," the department said in an online statement, calling for the vaccination of children.

On January 18, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in all counties of the state.

"State agencies and departments are encouraged to use state resources and to do all that is reasonably possible to badist the affected political subdivisions in order to cope with incidents and s & # 39; To give back, "said Inslee.

At the same time, 62 cases were confirmed Wednesday in Brooklyn New York, the New York State Department of Health announced on its website.

The epidemic in the city began since October 2018 in Orthodox Jewish communities after the return of a child from a trip to Israel, where a battle against measles had been going on for months.

The situation in the state of New Jersey would have improved, where 33 cases have been confirmed since October 2018.

The State Department of Health previously announced that the measles outbreak had been terminated, with no new cases having been identified during the incubation period of the last known case.

According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one or two out of every 1,000 children infected with measles will die from serious complications.

Health officials urged citizens, especially young children and pregnant women, to be vaccinated, saying everyone should be involved in infection control activities.

In 2018, 17 outbreaks and 349 cases were reported in 27 jurisdictions in the United States. A low vaccination rate is widely regarded as the reason for recent epidemics.