2019 is shaping up to be a very bad year for measles with outbreaks of the contagious disease on the rise in many parts of the world, including the U.S., a country with high overall vaccination coverage.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />The World Health Organization says the number of measles cases recorded 110-thousand worldwide in the first quarter of 2019 - a 300 percent increase from the same period last year. <br />In a statement released on Monday, the agency explained that many countries are in the midst of sizeable measles outbreaks,... with all regions of the world experiencing sustained rises.<br />It also noted the actual number of measles cases could be higher as only about one in ten actual measles cases were reported. <br />According to the WHO,... spikes in case numbers were also witnessed in countries with high overall vaccination coverage,... including the U.S,... which is experiencing its second-worst outbreak in nearly two decades. <br />The contagious disease has spread fast among clusters of unvaccinated people within the country. <br />The city of New York declared a public health emergency in parts of Brooklyn last week following a measles outbreak in an Orthodox Jewish community,... where anti-vaccination campaign has been spreading due mainly to religious reasons.<br />Nearly 300 cases were reported in New York City alone.<br />As of April 11th, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 555 measles cases since the beginning of the year. <br />Cases were found in 20 states, including California, Florida and Texas. <br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News. <br />
