Health officials did not mince their words over anti-vaxxers on Wednesday as they addressed the current outbreak of measles in the US.
During a congressional hearing, heads of federal health agencies confirmed that the US has counted more measles cases in the first two months of this year than in all of 2017.
So far, 159 cases of measles have been confirmed in 10 states, with severe outbreaks affecting the Pacific Northwest and New York.
Dr Anthony Fauci, infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health, says the measles vaccine is highly effective and the fact that cases are on the rise 'is really unacceptable'.
Dr Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, says the measles vaccine is highly effective and the fact that cases are on the rise 'is really unacceptable' (file image)
The vaccine is about 97 percent effective. But those who are unvaccinated have a 90 percent chance of catching measles if they breathe the virus in, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr Fauci says his primary goal is to stop the spreading of misinformation about the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
He believes this has led to many parents becoming vaccine hesitant and, therefore, raising their child's risk of catching life-threatening diseases.
'Misinformation is an important problem,' Dr Fauci said, according to NBC News.
'The spread of misinformation that leads people to make poor choices, despite their well-meaning, is a major contributor to the problem we're discussing.'
NBC News reported that the hearing - held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce - became a bit rowdy.
In fact, state Rep Diana DeGette (D-CO) stopped proceedings twice after people in the audience began to shout over the speakers.
Last month, officials in Washington declared a public health emergency as 65 people in Clark County and one person in King County have fallen ill with measles.
Fifty-seven cases are in those who have not been vaccinated. Forty-seven cases are in children aged 10 and younger.
New York has seen some of
