Measles was nearly eliminated from the US until a few recent outbreaks. The vaccine has been so effective that most people have no idea just how serious and highly contagious this disease is. Before the vaccine was developed, 400-500 people would die of measles in the US every year. Even now, in the rest of the world over 160,000 people die of measles annually. The best way to stop the spread is to make sure that all children over the age of 12 months are vaccinated. Concerns over this vaccine being associated with autism have been dispelled. The real tragedy will be that by avoiding this vaccine, parents will leave their children susceptible to one of the most deadly of the childhood illnesses.