Officals blame vaccine fears for sudden measles spike

Health officials are blaming a sudden spike in measles cases on fear among some parents about a possible link between vaccinations and autism (Source: “Jump in US measles cases linked to vaccine fears,” AP/Dayton Daily News, Aug. 22, 2008).

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 131 reported cases of measles during the first seven months of the year, compared to just 42 in all of 2007. Of this year’s total, 122 cases involved children who were not vaccinated.