According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 64 reports of confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States from January 1 through April 25, 2008. This is the highest number reported for the same time period since 2001, CDC said.

Cases have been reported from nine states and outbreaks are ongoing in four: Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, and New York.

CDC reported that, of the 64 cases, 59 occurred among U.S. residents, while 54 were associated with importation of measles from other countries. Most case-patients, 63, were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status; 1 had received two doses of vaccine. The 64 patients’ ages ranged between 5 months and 71 years, and 14 of them were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

CDC concluded that the measles cases and outbreaks in 2008 result primarily from failure to vaccinate, many because of personal or religious exemption.

Measles can be a severe, life-threatening illness. However, the vaccine against measles is highly effective in preventing infections, and high immunization levels in the community are effective in preventing or drastically decreasing the size of outbreaks.

Before the measles vaccination program, about 3–4 million persons in the U.S. were infected each year, of whom 400–500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and another 1,000 developed a chronic disability from measles encephalitis.

Ongoing measles virus transmission was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but the risk of cases and outbreaks from imported disease remains, CDC said in a news release.

Unvaccinated persons are risk acquiring measles themselves and also transmitting the disease to others, including children who are too young to be vaccinated.

CDC said public health officials and clinicians should remain vigilant regarding the possibility of measles infection, especially in persons who travel abroad, including to Europe. During 2008, measles importations have occurred from Switzerland, Israel, Belgium, India, Italy, and likely China, but they can occur from almost any country.