New York measles outbreaks driving spike in new cases

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - The number of measles cases in the U.S. has increased by 60 over the past week, in part due to outbreaks in New York, according to a weekly report by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC).

The current number of cases nationwide this year stands at 764, the highest since 1994, with 23 states reporting incidents.

Out of the 60 new cases, 41 were reported in New York City, while 11 were in Rockland County, New York, according to CNBC News.

The county reported 214 measles cases this year, according to its website.

The highest number of cases were reported in New York, where there was an outbreak in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods.

New York City imposed a mandatory vaccination order for residents, in response.

The CDC said the majority of those affected have not been vaccinated, which has led to an unprecedented spread of the disease.

The agency has not responded to a request for comment on the details of its weekly report released every Monday.

There are currently measles outbreaks in Butte, Los Angeles and Sacramento counties in California, Rockland County in New York state, New York City and the states of Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey and Washington.

About one or two out of every 1,000 people who get measles will die from the disease, but the illness has not caused a death in the U.S. since 2015, according to the CDC.

U.S. authorities declared person-to-person transmission of measles eliminated in 2000.