Measles cases climb to 880 in the United States, with most new cases in New York

Health officials confirmed 41 new cases of measles last week, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday, bringing the total number to 880 by 2019, already the worst year for the disease since 1994.

The CDC said it has confirmed the presence of measles in 24 states this year. While the total number has continued to increase, the pace seems to be slowing down – even though the agency will have to see if the trend continues before it can officially say that the spread is slowing, said a spokesman.

Thirty-one of 41 new cases have been reported in New York, where health officials have fought two major outbreaks since the fall. In New York, 21 new cases have been reported. In neighboring Rockland County, nine new cases have been reported, the CDC said.

Health officials attribute the recent upsurge in cases – after declaring in 2000 that the disease had been eliminated from the United States – to an increasing number of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

Measles is highly contagious, but preventable with a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. More and more parents refuse to vaccinate their children, sometimes based on false information that vaccines are at the root of autism.

The disease spreads quickly and easily among people who are not immune, leaving communities with a high rate of unprotected people who are particularly vulnerable.

Measles starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and sore throat. This then causes a rash. Some people develop serious complications, such as pneumonia or swelling of the brain. Children under 5 and adults over 20 are more likely to have complications, says the CDC.

The disease is still common in other countries. Unvaccinated persons can contract the disease while traveling and bring it back to the United States, where they can pass it on to other unvaccinated people.