At the last count 14 states have been reported cases of measles. The outbreak has been linked to Disneyland in California. According to many sources there are more than 500 suspected cases and more than 90 have been infected with the virus. 2014 has been the worst year for measles and the average number of cases per year between 2000 and 2011 was 62.
Measles vaccine was first introduced in the United States in 1963. At that time there were more than 549,000 reported cases per year and more than 500 died each year. The introduction of the one-dose vaccine resulted in reducing the number of infected substantially. However due to various reasons there have been an uptick in the numbers in 1989 and 1991. As a result, a two-dose vaccine system was introduced in 1989.
The debate about childhood immune boosting vaccinations including MMR is now in the forefront. Some parents refuse to vaccinate their children and that puts other children at risk. Medical experts say the vaccination is safe and work for MMR. But many for their own reasons refuse to vaccinate their children. The large number of these parents worries experts and they are fearful of reversing advances gained through vaccinations.