US: 2012 Measles cases- 25 cases to date

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Source: http://pediatrics.about.com/b/2012/03/15/measles-update-2012-measles-outlook.htm

Measles Update - 2012 Measles Outlook
By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com Guide March 15, 2012

Some new reports might provide some insight about this year's measles outlook.

This week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the CDC indicated that there have been at least 25 cases of measles reported to the CDC already this year. We had only seen 21 cases up to this point last year - a year that ended up with the most cases since 1996...

 

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Re: US: 2012 Measles cases- 25 cases to date

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577284001227981464.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Updated March 19, 2012, 8:04 p.m. ET
Where Could The Next Outbreak Of Measles Be?
By VALERIE BAUERLEIN And BETSY MCKAY

Even as more American children are getting immunized against measles, diphtheria and other diseases, public-health officials are increasingly worried about potential outbreaks of these illnesses in certain pockets of the country where vaccination rates are dangerously low.

Parts of Oregon, Washington state, Idaho, Montana and a few other states have some of the lowest rates of compliance with vaccination guidelines?and the problem is growing, health officials say. Overall vaccination rates in some of these communities are under 80%, far below the threshold that is needed to prevent an outbreak for certain diseases. Exemptions in many states for philosophical or religious reasons allow parents to opt out of requirements for children to be vaccinated before entering school. Other parents delay immunizations for their young children, leaving them exposed to possible infections for a longer time.

Health experts say a community needs about 95% of its citizens to be immunized against measles to ensure herd immunity,...