Measles cases reach highest level since disease was declared eliminated in US in 2000

The United States reached its highest number of measles cases in over 33 years on Monday, hitting 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and Washington, D.C.

The country reached the highest number of cases of the vaccine-preventable disease since 1992, when health officials recorded more than 2,100 cases. Measles cases have been on the rise following an outbreak in West Texas earlier this year.

At least 155 people have been hospitalized, and three people have died from measles this year. Around 92% of measles cases this year were in people who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Texas remains the hardest-hit state with more than 700 reported cases...