Measles Risk In Moorestown: Likelihood Of Outbreaks Shown In New Report

MOORESTOWN, NJ — As measles cases continue to climb in the United States, ABC News has released a map of estimated measles risk by ZIP code.

Last year, the United States recorded its highest number of measles cases since 1992, with 2,242 infections across 44 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least three people died, including two school-age children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico — all of whom were unvaccinated.

New Jersey had 11 confirmed cases last year.

Vaccination status is the biggest factor in determining risk level, according to health officials. Communities with lower rates of vaccination have a higher risk of measles spread.

Measles vaccination rates of 95 percent with both doses protects communities against outbreaks, the CDC says. But many communities fall below that benchmark, including Moorestown, according to the data ABC News shared.

Moorestown carries a "medium" risk level, with 70 to 79 percent of residents vaccinated against measles.

The map breaks down measles risk by ZIP code and county. The data was provided by researchers from Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine and Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, who published their findings Thursday in the journal Nature Health.

Burlington County carries a higher risk level, with measles vaccination rates in the 60s.

Measles is highly contagious. Before vaccines, it was a common and often-serious childhood illness.

Getting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the only way to protect yourself and those around you from measles, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

Click here for the ABC News map of measles vaccination levels by ZIP code.