Only News Photos Video/Audio CDC: MEASLES CASES IN US TOP 70, HIGHEST IN 6 YEARS By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer _Thu May 1, 4:36 PM ET_ ATLANTA - Measles outbreaks in several states have led to more than 70 cases so far this year, the worst in six years, health officials said Thursday.Most of the cases have been traced to outbreaks overseas and are mainly in children who were not vaccinated for religious or other reasons or were too young, according to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention.Measles vaccinations began in the early 1960s, cases have dramatically declined in the U.Far this year, the CDC has confirmed reports of 64 cases in nine states.Were no deaths, but 14 people were hospitalized, said CDC spokesman Curtis Allen.That count doesn't include Washington state, where eight cases were reported this week.Cases stemmed from an international church conference in suburban Seattle in March, according to the state health department.Measles is caused by a virus that normally grows in cells that line the back of the throat and line the lungs.Spreads through contact with a sneezing, coughing, infected person.Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.About 1 in 5 measles sufferers experience more severe illness that can include diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis and even seizures and death.Of the 64 cases reported to the CDC as of last week, 63 were unvaccinated or it wasn't known if they were vaccinated.Least 54 of the cases stemmed from outbreaks in Switzerland, Israel or other countries, Allen said.Of the U.Cases were children younger than 1; children usually don't get their first measles shot until they're at least 1 because their immune systems are considered too immature to produce the needed response.Such children can easily pick up infections from those around them, said Dr.Schaffner, chairman of Vanderbilt University's department of preventive medicine."We have a responsibility not only to ourselves but to everyone around us" to get rmended vaccinations, he said.The largest concentration has been in New York City, with 22 cases.Had 15, California, 12, and Michigan and Wisconsin have each had four.Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia and upstate New York also reported cases.It's the largest number of cases since 2001 when 116 cases were reported, according to CDC records.Expect this year's tally to keep climbing past that mark, said Dr.Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.The worst year for measles was 1958, according to modern public health records.Than 763,000 cases were reported that year, including 552 deaths.The early 1990s led to a revision of vaccination guidelines to include children younger than school age.On the Net: CDC: Yahoo!THIS STORY Rmend It: Not at All Somewhat Moderately Highly Very Highly Average (Not Rated) _AP_ _AP_ _AP_ _AP_ _HealthDay_ _AP_ _Reuters_ _AP_ _Reuters_ _ CNN - Thu May 1, 3:16 PM ET_ _ FOX News - Thu May 1, 5:06 PM ET_ _ ABC News - Thu May 1, 6:01 PM ET_ _ CNN - Thu May 1, 7:04 AM ET_ Sponsored Links ( ) $300,000 Mortgage for only $965/month.$1,000's - No obligation. Get a Degree in as Few as 2 Yrs- Graduate Faster with Online Classes. Getting the lowest rate?Quotes from toppanies.Related Video Yahoo!Topic Pages Get in-depth coverage on and with new topic pages.Elsewhere On The Web ABC NEWS: ABC NEWS: TIME: YAHOO!How to give and get perfectly good stuff for free, reducing waste.From Y!Find answers on Yahoo!Add Headlines To Your Personalized My Yahoo!Health - AP NEWS ALERTS __ Get an alert when there are new stories about: ear infections Arizona suburban Seattle CDC Vanderbilt University - - SEARCH: All News Yahoo!Only News Photos Video/Audio PRIMARY NAVIGATION Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.Read more Axitinib for renal cell carcinoma
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