US measles tally already among worst in 15 years

Before a vaccine became available about 50 years ago, nearly all children got measles by their 15th birthday. In those days, nearly 500 Americans died from measles each year.

Now, the U.S. has about 60 cases each year. But so far this year, officials have seen 159 cases. The highest count since the mid-1990s was 222 in 2011.

The largest outbreak of the year was in Brooklyn. The second largest was in North Carolina, where 23 cases were reported in May. Many of them originated in Orange County.

Most young children are vaccinated against measles. But outbreaks still occur, usually when travelers pick up the measles virus abroad and then spread it among unvaccinated people here.

Nearly all of this year's cases have been traced to travelers.