The disease in question is measles, a viral infection that typically begins with cold-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and a runny nose, and is usually followed by a blotchy red rash. As of December 23, there have been 2,012 confirmed measles cases in the US alone.

Thanks to advances in modern medicine, measles cases in the country had declined steadily year after year. The last time the US saw numbers this high was in 1992, when 2,126 infections were confirmed, according to CDC data.

However, in recent years, an increasing number of Americans have chosen not to receive vaccinations, often citing political beliefs. Some experts believe this growing movement has contributed to a worldwide surge in measles cases, pushing global numbers to a 25-year high.