U.S. reports biggest measles outbreak since 2001

U.S. reports biggest measles outbreak since 2001
5/1/08

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The biggest U.S. outbreak of measles since 2001 is unfolding in 10 states, with at least 72 people ranging from infants to the elderly becoming ill -- most of them unvaccinated, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said none of those who caught the highly contagious viral illness has died, but at least 14 people have been hospitalized, most with pneumonia triggered by measles.
There were 116 cases in 2001, and the last major U.S. outbreak occurred from 1989 to 1991, when 55,000 people got measles and 123 died.

Anne Schuchat, who heads the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said she expects "many more cases this year than we had in 2001 based on what's going on today."
Public health officials have been stressing the importance of immunizing children in the face of increasingly vocal groups who object to vaccines for religious reasons or because they think the shots may cause autism or other problems.

CDC officials said overwhelming scientific evidence points to the safety of the combined measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, shot and other childhood vaccines.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080501/hl_nm/measles_usa_dc;_ylt=AsIGaZ2KTJtd7YG8HGezRTSs0NUE
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

U.S. reports biggest measles outbreak since 2001

Cybergal Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

U.S. reports biggest measles outbreak since 2001

Cybergal Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!