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Measles cases on the rise in U.S.
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Between January and April 2008, 64 confirmed cases of measles were reported to the CDC. This is more than the total for the entire year of 2006 and is the highest number reported for the same time period since 2001.
According to CDC officials, patients with measles have been reported in nine states, including four where outbreaks are ongoing: Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan and New York.
Thus far, no fatalities have been linked to the measles outbreak, but CDC officials warned that the outbreak is expected to continue and escalate.
Fifty-four of the confirmed cases of measles were associated with importation of the disease from other countries. It is believed that some of the strains of measles in this outbreak may be traced to Belgium and Israel.
All but one of the cases in the U.S. occurred in patients who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.