U.S. officials reported 60 new measles cases last week amid an outbreak of the disease that has reached 26 states.
The number of measles cases rose 6.8 percent during the week ending on May 24, Reuters reported on Monday, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are now a total of 940 confirmed cases this year, the highest number since 1994 and since officials declared that the disease was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, the news service noted.
Public health authorities have blamed the increase in cases on the circulation of misinformation about vaccines.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill last Friday ending most non-medical exemptions for mandatory childhood vaccines, just days after the first confirmed measles case hit the state.
The law eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions in Maine, local ABC affiliate WMTW reported.
Under the new law, only doctors and pediatric primary care givers can determine if a child should receive a medical exemption.
The Hill has reached out to the CDC for comment.