Measles cases in the United States are the highest they’ve been since the country eliminated the disease in 2000. The U.S. has reported nearly 1,300 cases since the start of the year.
Most cases this year are in Texas, which accounts for about 3 out of 4 reported infections.
“Elimination” means the disease has not spread continuously for at least 12 months. And while sporadic outbreaks have occurred since 2000, recent case counts are nothing compared with the 27,000 cases reported in 1990 or the 450,000 cases reported in 1964.
The measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, which marked a turning point for the contagious disease, which used to kill thousands every year.
