Measles Update: Nearly 950 Cases Reported in the U.S.

As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 930 confirmed measles cases nationwide, with the highly contagious disease spreading in nearly 30 states.


Measles Outbreak Overview: This year, there have been 935 confirmed measles cases across almost 30 states, reflecting an increase of 51 cases over the past week and significantly exceeding the total of 285 cases reported in all of 2024. The CDC does not indicate how many of these cases are currently infectious. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported on Tuesday that its measles cases, dating back to late January, had risen to 663, with 87 patients hospitalized and two school-age children confirmed dead from the illness. Fewer than ten of the confirmed cases in Texas are believed to be actively infectious, according to health officials. Among the reported cases, 28 involved vaccinated individuals, while the remaining 635 were either unvaccinated or lacked a known vaccination status. In New Mexico, which has the second-highest measles case count in the nation, Lea County accounts for 61 of the state's 67 confirmed cases, located approximately 47 miles from Gaines County, Texas, where most of the Texas cases have been identified. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 46 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, with Jill Bronaugh, the department's communications director, stating that genetic sequencing of one case shows a link to outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Where is the Measles Outbreak in Texas?: Gaines County, a rural area about 90 minutes west of Lubbock, has reported 396 confirmed cases. Other counties, including Terry (59), Lubbock (48), Dawson (25), El Paso (32), Yoakum (19), Cochran (14), Lamar (17), and Ector (10), have also reported cases, with a total of 26 counties in Texas confirming the outbreak. Fatalities from Measles: Earlier this month, an eight-year-old girl in Lubbock, Texas, died from "measles pulmonary failure" after contracting the disease, as reported by The New York Times. The UMC Health System where she was treated confirmed her death, noting that she was unvaccinated and had no underlying health issues. Additionally, an unvaccinated six-year-old succumbed to measles in February, marking the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade. Demographics Affected by the Outbreak in Texas: A total of 245 cases have been reported among individuals aged five to 17, 200 cases among children under five, and 194 among adults aged 18 and older. The ages of 24 patients remain unspecified. Measles Outbreaks Across the U.S.: The CDC has documented 12 outbreaks (three or more related cases) in 2025, with 93% of confirmed cases (869 out of 935) linked to an outbreak. Cases in Kansas have been tied to those in New Mexico, which are in turn connected to the Texas outbreak. Aside from multiple case clusters in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, isolated cases (ranging from one to nine) have been reported in various states including Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, and New York, among others. Symptoms of Measles: Measles symptoms include fever, rash, cough, fatigue, runny nose, and red eyes. These symptoms typically manifest 10 to 14 days post-exposure but can appear as late as 21 days after. Contagiousness of Measles: Measles is extremely contagious, capable of spreading from one infected person to 90% of those nearby, as per the CDC. An infected individual can transmit the virus four days before through four days after the rash appears. It can be spread via coughing, sneezing, and contaminated surfaces, remaining airborne or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has vacated the area. Isolation Protocol for Measles: Those infected with measles should isolate for four days following the onset of the rash, with day zero being the day the rash appears. Measles Vaccine Availability: Yes, an effective and safe measles vaccine is available, according to the CDC. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been available for over 50 years and is about 97% effective with two doses and 93% effective with one dose. Typically administered to children, one dose is given between 12 to 15 months of age and another between four to six years. The vaccine usually provides long-term or lifelong immunity. Adults uncertain of their vaccination status are encouraged to receive the vaccine, and those vaccinated before 1968 may consider revaccination due to the lower effectiveness of early vaccines. Comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Measles Outbreak and Vaccine: Initially, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described the measles outbreak as "not unusual," but later acknowledged its seriousness, stating it serves as "a call to action" for public health commitment. He emphasized the MMR vaccine as "the most effective way" to prevent measles spread and has supported the use of vitamin A under medical supervision for treating measles. However, experts, including Dr. Paul Offit from the Vaccine Education Center, have highlighted that budesonide and clarithromycin proposed by Kennedy are not effective treatments for measles. Kennedy has also stated that people should get vaccinated, though stopped short of calling for a mandate. Conclusion: Given the highly contagious nature of measles, the Texas Department of State Health Services cautioned that additional cases are likely to arise in the outbreak area and nearby communities.

Background Information:
The current outbreak began in late January with only two cases and has since escalated to the largest outbreak in Texas in three decades. The Texas health department noted that 5.64% of kindergarten students were unvaccinated for measles while 2.34% of seventh graders lacked vaccination. Since measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, new cases have typically originated from travelers who contracted the virus abroad and returned home. In 2024, a total of 285 cases were documented across 33 states.
Anthony Pequeno Iv and Ty Roush