While the magnitude of this outbreak doesn't compare to the 500,000 cases of measles reported each year prior to the development of a vaccine, those 125 individuals probably died unnecessarily. In contrast, by 1998 the vaccination had rate increased, and there were only 89 cases of measles in the United States with no measles-associated deaths. If there is an increase in individuals seeking exemptions from vaccine mandates, the progress we have made to halt the spread of this deadly infectious disease could be unwound.