The number of measles cases in the US is the highest in the past 18 years.

US officials on April 25 urged people to quickly get vaccinated against measles in the context of the disease spreading rapidly and strongly in this country in the first four months of 2014.

Measles vaccine vials. (Source: THX/TTXVN)

According to data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the same day, from the beginning of January this year to mid-April, the number of measles cases in the US has reached 129.

Health experts stress this is the country's highest number of measles cases since 1996.

Most of the patients are mainly concentrated in two states: California with 58 cases and New York with 29 cases.

Commenting on this issue, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned that measles is a dangerous infectious disease that attacks both children and adults, weakens the immune system and leaves many serious complications for the patient's health.

According to this official, with the number of measles cases increasing sharply in the first months of the year, the New York State Government is making efforts to urge people to go to health care centers to get a measles vaccine booster.

Last year, New York City alone recorded 58 cases of measles.

The United States is believed to have eliminated measles in 2000. Between 2000 and 2007, the country recorded only 63 cases of measles, most of which were imported from abroad.

However, in recent years, the US has faced quite serious measles cases.

Not only in the US, this epidemic is also at risk of breaking out and threatening the lives of people in some countries such as Vietnam, India, Singapore, Philippines.../.

According to Vietnam+