As of April 11, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 555 cases of the disease since the beginning of the year, up from 465 cases confirmed by April 4 (Increase 20%). The cases were found in 20 states spanning the country. The measles virus is highly contagious and can lead to deadly complications, particularly in children. The CDC report did not say whether there have been any fatalities.

The U.S. outbreak is part of a worldwide rise. The World Health Organization reported on Monday that global cases had risen nearly four-fold in the first quarter of 2019 to 112,163 compared with the same period last year. The United States declared that measles had been eliminated from the country in 2000, meaning the virus is no longer present year-round. But outbreaks still happen each year, typically when unvaccinated people travel to the country from parts of the world where the disease is still common.

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