MEASLES CASES INCREASE

The Center for Dieses Control and Prevention reports that so far this year the United States has had 118 cases of measles. This is the highest year to date total since 1996.
The CDC on Tuesday released the count for January 1 through May 20. Cases were seen in 23 states. None of the patients died, but about 40 percent were hospitalized.
The U.S. normally sees about 50 cases of measles in a year, thanks to vaccinations. About 90 percent of the cases this year were unvaccinated.
Measles is highly contagious and up to 90 percent of people exposed to an infected person get sick. The virus spreads easily through the air, and in closed rooms, infected droplets can linger for up to two hours.