Alarming Rise Recorded in Measles Cases in US and Canada

Measles cases have hit record levels in United States and Canada with recent figures released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America showing that 214 cases of the disease have been registered so far this year, the highest number since 1996.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 68 patients had to be hospitalized due to the disease with 12 of them developing pneumonia.

The health agency also added that more than 86 percent of the cases were caused as the patients had not taken preventive vaccination.

CDC's Huong McLean said that the United States is feeling the effects of the rise in number of measles cases in Europe where over 28,000 cases have been registered so far. McLean added that 73 patients were US residents who had visited Europe and had brought the infection to the American shores.

Source: Medindia