The CDC has already confirmed 228 cases of measles this year, The Hill reports, putting it easily on track to surpass the 372 cases in all of 2018.
The big picture: Measles outbreaks have been confirmed in 12 states. The infection spreads first through unvaccinated Americans who have come into contact with it abroad, and then among unvaccinated communities domestically.
To wit: People who flew through Los Angeles International Airport — one of the busiest airports in the world — on Feb. 21 may have been exposed to the virus there, per the L.A. Times.
- A passenger who had a layover at LAX that day was diagnosed with measles, which can linger for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves the room.
Be smart: There's no need for so many of us to be unvaccinated.