Boston measles outbreak a test for country

BOSTON, June 10 (UPI) -- A recent measles outbreak in Boston is blamed on a computer programmer from India, but raises concern that many aren't immune to the disease, a report says.

Health officials are certain the Boston visitor infected six other workers at Investors Band & Trust in the John Hancock Tower in May, the Boston Globe reported.

They aren't sure of another four people in the city who developed the disease around the same time.

Dr. Alfred DeMaria, chief medical officer of the state's Department of Public Health said a coincidence of two measles outbreaks in the same city at the same time "would be an extraordinary circumstance."

The Globe reported all of the U.S. residents who got sick are between 30 and 50 years old.

Many in that age group are thought to have been poorly inoculated against measles, which may be why the Boston breakout occurred, the Globe said.

Dr. Adolf Karchmer of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center said it also shows how susceptible that age group is to the disease, adding, "Because measles has been so well controlled, you don't find out about those people, until you have what's happening in downtown Boston."