CDC: Biggest rise in recent measles cases in illinois

(HealthDay)—The number of measles cases in the United States has reached 141 patients in 17 states and the District of Columbia, federal health officials reported Tuesday.

The outbreak began at two Disney theme parks in southern California in December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, and it's believed that the source of the infection was likely a foreign visitor or a U.S. resident returning from abroad. Measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

The CDC offered the following state-by-state breakdown for cases recorded by Feb. 13: Arizona, seven cases; California, 98 cases; Colorado, one case; District of Columbia, one case; Delaware, one case; Illinois, 11 cases; Michigan, one case; Minnesota, one case; Nebraska, two cases; New Jersey, one case; New York, two cases; Nevada, four cases; Oregon, one case; Pennsylvania, one case; South Dakota, two cases; Texas, one case; Utah, two cases; and Washington, four cases. Most of the cases—113 cases, or 80 percent—have been linked to the outbreak that started at the Disney parks in California, officials said.

The biggest rise in infections occurred in Illinois, where cases jumped from three last week to 11 this week. The majority of people who've gotten measles in the current outbreak were unvaccinated, the agency said.