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Measles Outbreak: Latest Numbers Still Show New York Main Point Of Infection

NEW YORK (CBSNewYorkAP) -- U.S. health officials say this year's count of measles cases has surpassed 800, a growing tally that is already the nation's highest in 25 years.

A total of 839 cases were reported as of last week. That's the most since 1994, when 963 were reported for the entire year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest numbers Monday.

MEASLES HEALTH EMERGENCY RESOURCES

In all, 23 states have reported cases this year. The vast majority of illnesses have been in New York -- most of them among unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. That pattern continued last week, with most of the 75 new cases coming from New York.

Also Monday, New York City closed a ninth school for violating an emergency health order. According to the health department, Yeshiva of Central Queens on 70th Road in Kew Gardens did not exclude unvaccinated children for 21 days as required. The eight other schools closed have reopened after making necessary changes.

There are 498 measles cases in the city, officials said.

Measles was once common in the U.S., but gradually became rare after a vaccination campaigns that started in the 1960s.

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