The measles outbreak in the United States continues to spread as individual cases of the contagious respiratory disease has been confirmed in 26 states.
On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an additional 60 confirmed individual cases of measles. The total number of measles cases reached 940 in the week ended March 24.
It is the greatest numbers of measles cases recorded in the U.S. since 1994 and since 2000 when federal health officials declared that the disease was eliminated in the country.
Health officials blame misinformation about MMR vaccines for the recurrence of measles outbreak
Public health officials blamed the spread of misinformation regarding vaccines for the recurrence of measles in country. Many parents rejected the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella because of their false belief that it causes autism. Their belief contradicts scientific studies that the MMR vaccine is proven safe and effective and provides long-lasting protection against measles that has the potential to be deadly.
