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April 16, 2019

Measles on the Rise Around the World, Up 300% from 2018
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The U.N. is warning the spread of measles is on the rise around the
world. The number of cases reported in the first three months of 2019 is
three times higher than the same time last year. The highly contagious
infection kills 100,000 people every year, mostly children. All regions
around the world have been hit by the recent outbreak, with Africa
reporting the greatest spike, up 700% since 2018. The U.N. says the most
affected countries are Ukraine, Madagascar and India. Although the
disease is preventable, lack of access to vaccinations in poorer
countries has helped contribute to the recent surge in cases.

Last week, New York City declared a public health emergency, mandating
the vaccination in some parts of Brooklyn, where Orthodox Jewish
communities, which have particularly low vaccination rates, have been
hit hard by the outbreak.


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