Measles Outbreak 2015 Update: US Has More Cases in January Than Typical Yearly Diagnosis

The United States already has already more cases of measles in the first month of 2015 than the number that is typically diagnosed in a full year, the New York Times reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that measles cases were significantly high last year with 644, many more than in any other year in more than a decade. In January 1, they have confirmed 84 measles cases in 14 states, with the biggest number, 27 in Orange County.

A large number also came from the unvaccinated Amish communities in Ohio, and many attributed the outbreak to travellers coming from the Philippines as well.

Many of the measles cases have been rooted back to an outbreak in Disneyland, which started last December. They reported that at least 40 people who visited or worked at the theme park contracted measles, and this invariably spread the disease to at least six other states.

It is very easy to contract the disease since an infected person who coughs or sneezes can spread the virus into the air in small droplets, and it can remain suspended for up to two hours.

The people who have measles are infectious for about four days before and four days after the appearance of the rash.

Before a vaccine was made available, almost everyone in the United States became infected with measles before the age of 15. It unfortunately kills about one in every 1,000 people infected, but those who survive it have lifelong immunity.

Many parents have decided not to vaccinate their children, not only because of fear that the vaccine might cause autism, attention deficit disorder, or allergies, but largely due to the report that the vaccine was created out of the cells of aborted children.

"There is absolutely no reason to get the shot," Crystal McDonald told The New York Times, explaining that she and her husband, a chiropractor have decided to raise their children without any vaccines. She even told her 16-year-old daughter that she'd rather have her daughter miss an entire semester of school than get the vaccine.

And even if doctors try their best to convince parents to vaccinate their children, their pleas fall on deaf ears. Doctors believe that a "herd immunity" will help decrease the measles outbreak, since vaccinated people can serve as a barrier for the disease. This requires children to be vaccinated at a high rate.