Measles reported in Georgia, Oregon and Hawaii amid outbreak across the US ...

The measles outbreak that has sickened 38 people in Washington state has spread to Hawaii and Oregon by travelers with the highly-contagious disease. 

The revelation prompted public health officials in Oregon's Deschutes County and in Hawaii to issue alerts, although no cases were confirmed in either location.

Meanwhile, three cases have been confirmed in Georgia among an unvaccinated family.   

The two-dose vaccine against measles was introduced in 1978 in the US, and by 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared it 'eliminated.' 

But in recent years, there's been a resurgence of the disease both in the US and abroad, and experts believe its return is fueled by anti-vaccination laws, groups and lobbies, experts say. 

Signss posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Washington warn patients and visitors of a measles outbreak that has sickened 40 people in the Pacific Northwest and has spread to Hawaii and Oregon. Cases have now been reported in Georgia, too 

Signss posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Washington warn patients and visitors of a measles outbreak that has sickened 40 people in the Pacific Northwest and has spread to Hawaii and Oregon. Cases have now been reported in Georgia, too 

The revelation of the outbreak's spread 'raises concerns that this can go on for a long time, become geographically larger than it is and more cases over weeks and months,' said Dr Alan Melnick, public health director for Clark County, in southern Washington, which is at the epicenter of the outbreak and has a lower-than-normal vaccination rate.

There are 40 confirmed cases in the Northwest, including 38 clustered in southwest Washington, one in Portland and one in Seattle. Thirteen additional suspected cases were reported Wednesday, and some of those will likely be confirmed, Dr Melnick said.

Officials haven't yet determined how the measles outbreak started. The first patient sought medical care on December 31, but other sick people may not have gone to a doctor or hospital, he said.

Clark County, where the first case was documented, has a 78 percent vaccination rate - far below the 95 percent required for 'herd immunity' for such a contagious virus.

Herd immunity, or

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