4 charts reveal just how bad the measles outbreak has gotten

Vaccination rates have dipped below safe levels in much of the country. | Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images

The United States is in the middle of what’s shaping up to be the worst measles outbreak of this century. 

The outbreak began within a small religious community in West Texas in January, but it has since spread across four states in the Southwest. Two school-aged children and one adult have died so far. The number of reported cases is set to surpass 1,000 this week — though the real count may be much higher.