A potential measles outbreak is brewing in Boston as health officials say they have two confirmed and three suspected cases of the dangerous and potentially deadly disease there.

Once nearly eradicated, outbreaks of the measles have become more commonplace in the U.S. RIFT Platinum in recent years as more parents choose not to vaccinate their children based on the myth that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine causes autism.

"Measles are very contagious and they can be transmitted from person to person very easily," Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati, told AOL Health. Rift Gold "The virus can be transmitted through droplets from coughing or sneezing just like influenza or tuberculosis."

Federal health officials recommend that all children receive the MMR vaccination before starting elementary school and, again, before starting college.

Fichtenbaum says current vaccination rates remain strong despite recent concerns about vaccinations causing conditions such as autism. RIFT Platinum In light of the potential Boston outbreak, however, he urges the general public (children and adults) to maintain their vaccinations.

"If people don't get vaccinated, they place themselves and others at risk," says Fichtenbaum. rift gold "It's one thing to make a personal decision, but it's another when your decision affects others."

Although measles is still relatively rare in this country, Fichtenbaum said people should continue to think of measles as a serious disease. "Two thousand to 10,000 children died annually in the U.S. [from measles] before vaccines were available," he says.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 61 reported cases of measles in the United States in 2010 and 12 cases reported this year through mid-February, Reuters reports.

The most recent multi-state measles outbreak was in 2008, when more than 130 cases were reported in 15 states, according to the CDC.

The Boston cases appear to have started with a woman that caught the disease while overseas.

The Boston Public Health Commission released information Tuesday about an investigation into a suspected case of measles in a University of Massachusetts faculty member who teaches about 45 students at the Boston campus. On Wednesday, officials confirmed that a 20-year-old female, who lives in the same apartment complex as the professor, the Park Square Building in the Back Bay, also may have the measles.

The state's infectious disease bureau says students, faculty and staff, who have not been immunized and were exposed to the infected professor, should refrain from public activities for 21 days after their last contact or until a measles diagnosis is dismissed.

The university and state Public Health Commission are working together to identify individuals who are at risk. rift gold In addition, the university's Health Services has measles vaccinations available and is distributing a campus-wide letter urging individuals to take precautions.

Laboratory tests confirming other suspected measles cases in the Boston area are still pending.

In an unrelated case, U.S. health officials are on the lookout for measles cases possibly connected to an infected air traveler, a New Mexico woman, RIFT Platinum who recently stopped at four major airports in Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, and New Mexico and visited Washington, D.C.

Because measles rates are traditionally low in the U.S., it would take very few infections to cause an epidemic.

"I think the key question is: how many people could be affected?" explains Fichtenbaum who says 20 infected patients could be considered an epidemic in the U.S.

Measles symptoms include cough, runny nose and itchy eyes similar to the flu with increased eye irritation. Rift Gold These symptoms will last several days and are followed by a rash starting on the head and progressing down the body.