Many adults and children are unvaccinated in the United States because many thought the virus had been eradicated and few people imagined another outbreak. Measles is still common in many countries and kills an estimated 540 children each day.

Many overlook the fact that measles can be transported from other countries, as could be the case if, for instance, an infected person traveled to the United States. Last year, the number of reported measles cases in the United States more than doubled (63, on average, to 140 in 2008, according to the Washington Post). Despite the fact that a safe and effective measles vaccine costs less than one dollar, parents in many developing countries do not have access to the vaccine that would protect their children and themselves. Poverty, poor health systems and a lack of information make it difficult for families to secure medical care.

Measles is transmitted through coughing, sneezing and contact with secretions from the nose, mouth, and throat of an infected individual. The virus can live in the air for several hours after a cough or sneeze. Measles’ symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, a runny nose and red, watery eyes. People especially at risk of infection are children younger than one year old, pregnant women, people who have not been immunized and people with immune systems.

"The existence of measles in a populous area such as Northern Virginia at a time of the year when people tend to increase their travel throughout the state should be a cautionary signal to all residents. The safest and most effective way to protect you and your family against infectious disease is to ensure that all vaccinations are administered at recommended times and are up-to-date," said State Health Commissioner Karen Remley said in an article in the Washington Post. The Measles Initiative, a partnership led by the American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, is working to address this problem.