The United States continues to be at risk for measles through international importation. In 1996, two-thirds of the reported cases in the United States could be traced to international importation. Indigenous transmission of measles in the United States appears to have been interrupted for 16 weeks in late 1996. Elimination of measles in the United States is achievable. The public health goal is worldwide polio eradication by the year 2000.
Vaccines are highly cost effective.
Failure to immunize can lead to new outbreaks of disease.