Measles (麻疹) breaks out in the Northwest

    The U.S. is experiencing outbreaks of measles, a disease it had declared eliminated years ago, largely due to a drop in vaccination (接种疫苗) rates in some communities.

    An outbreak in Washington state has sickened 23 people this month, mostly children under 10. Local health officials in Clark County, declared a public-health  on Friday. They also urged residents to track  symptoms and call ahead before heading to medical centers.

    State officials announced the  of measles from the U.S. in 2000, thanks to a widespread vaccination program. But travelers entering the country with measles, as well as dropping vaccination rates in some states in recent years, has led to a rise in infection. Last year, there were a total of 17 outbreaks,  as three or more cases linked together, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York and New Jersey  for roughly half of the 2018 cases. The Clark County outbreak began early last week with three confirmed cases and has since grown to 23 confirmed and two more . Of those cases, 20 were unvaccinated and the others are unconfirmed.

    Measles is highly ; the virus spreads through the air by coughing or sneezing, the CDC says. Early  include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by tiny, white spots inside the mouth and the red, bumpy rash (疹子) that people  associate with the infection. Children younger than 5 or adults older than 20 are more likely to suffer from complications, according to the CDC.

    In order to prevent the further spread of the outbreak, local health officials are posting times and places where residents may have been exposed. They are urging residents who haven't been vaccinated to  whether they have been exposed and to take appropriate action.