A measles alert has been issued by the New Jersey Department of Health after three cases of the highly-contagious virus were confirmed in Bergen County.An unvaccinated resident was diagnosed with measles after returning from an international trip and spread it to two close contacts,

The Mennonite population being affected by a measles outbreak in West Texas is part of a larger, loosely affiliated group of churches worldwide with varied beliefs and leadership structures — and with sometimes strained or distant relations with health officials and other public authorities.

A measles outbreak in Canada's Ontario province continues to grow, with health officials reporting more than 140 cases on Thursday, making it the most severe outbreak in decades.

Vaccines are the most effective tools to combat measles. Breakthrough cases — infections among the vaccinated — are extremely rare. But as outbreaks spread, it’s important to review your own vaccination status and make sure you are properly protected.

New measles cases have been confirmed in New Jersey and Kentucky with the one common factor being a lack of measles vaccinations.