50 years after vaccine creation, measles still threatens U.S.

In 2013, nearly 200 cases of measles came from people who traveled abroad Although cases of measles were virtually eliminated through 2011, people who travel abroad have brought the infection home have caused a recent spike in 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The measles virus is an infection of the respiratory system, typically characterized by high fevers and rashes, and is extremely contagious. That’s why scientists developed a vaccine 50 years ago that has helped prevent 10 million deaths, according to the CDC. And through 2011, the virus had been deemed eliminated in the U.S., meaning there was an absence of continuous disease transmission for more than 12 months. But in 2013, some communities throughout the country saw a spike in reported cases. The CDC has recorded 175 cases, all of which were linked to individuals who brought the infection to the United States after traveling in another...