US has recorded 704 cases of measles this year, a 25-year-high-health officials

[BOSTON] The United States recorded 78 new measles cases last week for a total of 704 cases so far this year, the greatest number in a quarter century, federal health officials said on Monday.

The number was up 1.3 per cent since the most recent tally of 695 reported on Wednesday, according to The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some 22 states have recorded cases of the extremely contagious and sometimes deadly disease.

REUTERS