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Health experts push higher measles vaccination rate

Scott Pohl/WKAR

After the disease was declared ‘eliminated’ in the United States in 2000, measles is back. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control say there were 644 diagnosed cases of the disease in 2014.  That's more than in any year since 2000. So far this year, the number is at least 107, after five infants at a Chicago area day care center were diagnosed late last week.According to the New York Times, there has been one diagnosed case of the measles in Michigan, in Oakland County. That person has recovered.

The spike in measles cases is largely attributed to a rise in the number of unvaccinated people, especially children. Authorities suggest the number of vaccination waivers has risen to a level that makes it a factor.

Current State host Mark Bashore talks with Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail, and Dr. Dean Sienko, Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health at the MSU College of Human Medicine.

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