When people think of epidemics in the US, they think AIDS, HIV or even Cancer. However, statistics have proven that the outbreak of measles has become a major issue in the US. In the past 25 years, the Measles has never had its utmost power over US citizens until now. Federal Health officials are now declaring that the Measles outbreak has hit its peak this year. They declare that the prime reasoning for this outbreak is the spread of misinformation about the Measles vaccine available to people in the US. Many refuse to take them out of fear that other diseases may arise from taking such vaccines. 704 measles cases were reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of April 26 this year and 695 reported as of last Wednesday.

Numerous cases of the measles have arisen in the past year, both nationally and internationally. Last Thursday, a cruise ship by the name of Freewinds in St. Lucia was quarantined due to a measles case according to health officials. Passengers and crewmates on board the ship were not allowed to leave. Freewinds was at the time owned by the Church of Scientology, in which the Scientologists would use medications and prescriptions drugs, but have not taken any vaccinations.

Even more recently in the US, a woman with the measles had gone to see the opening viewing of the new blockbuster film, Avengers: Endgame on Thursday in an AMC theater in Fullerton, California. Health officials say that people in the building at the time could have been exposed to the measles. The woman is said to have come from a foreign country with an outbreak of the disease and was considered infected between the days April 23 to May 1. Measles vaccination remains available to all that live in the US.

“I believe that there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccinations. Many people do not take vaccinations out of fear from other diseases that may come from vaccinations,” said Judy Daly, a nurse at Wayne Hills High School.

Information about possible diseases that may arise from receiving vaccinations may be the biggest reasoning as to why Americans still have yet to receive measles them. Until then, health officials are trying their best to ensure that everyone in the US is vaccinated for this pestilence.