The Vermont Health Department wants health care providers to be alert for measles because the highly contagious disease has been found in 18 states this year.
Measles have been found in two New England states: Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Vermont Public Radio reports there has been only one reported case of measles in Vermont in the past 10 years. The last outbreak was in 1993 when there were 31 cases.
Vermont state epidemiologist Patsy Kelso says the U.S. is seeing more cases because of increased travel overseas. Infected people then bring the disease back.
Measles is easily transmitted from one person to another and roughly nine out of every 10 susceptible people with close contact to a measles patient will develop the disease.
Kelso recommends that children be vaccinated against measles.
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