Measles Hit 15-Year High

Measles in the United States reached a 15-year high in 2011, with 222 reported cases, a study by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases stated Thursday. Ninety percent of the cases could be tracked to other countries. Until last year, there had been only about 60 cases per year between 2001 and 2010. Last year had the highest number since 1996, when there were 508 cases. The NCIRD director said: “We don’t have to have this much measles. Measles is preventable. Unvaccinated people put themselves and other people at risk for measles and its complications.”