A second school-age little one who was hospitalized with measles is the third measles-related loss of life within the U.S. because the virus began ripping via West Texas in late January.
The kid, a affected person at UMC Well being System in Lubbock, Texas, was unvaccinated and being handled for measles issues.
The U.S. now has greater than double the variety of measles instances it noticed in all of 2024, with Texas reporting one other massive soar in instances and hospitalizations on Friday. Different states with lively outbreaks — outlined as three or extra instances — embody New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. The virus has been spreading in undervaccinated communities.
The multi-state outbreak confirms well being specialists’ fears that the virus will take maintain in different U.S. communities with low vaccination charges and that the unfold might stretch on for a 12 months. The World Well being Group mentioned final week that instances in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.
Measles is brought on by a extremely contagious virus that is airborne and spreads simply when an contaminated particular person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It’s preventable via vaccines, and has been thought of eradicated from the U.S. since 2000.
What number of measles instances are there in Texas and New Mexico?
Texas’ outbreak started greater than two months in the past. State well being officers mentioned Friday there have been 59 new instances of measles since Tuesday, bringing the entire to 481 throughout 19 counties — most of them in West Texas. The state additionally logged 14 new hospitalizations, for a complete of 56 all through the outbreak.
Greater than 65% of Texas’ instances are in Gaines County, inhabitants 22,892, the place the virus began spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite group. The county now has logged 315 instances since late January — simply over 1% of the county’s residents.
New Mexico introduced six new instances Friday, bringing the state’s whole to 54. New Mexico well being officers say the instances are linked to Texas’ outbreak based mostly on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, the place two folks have been hospitalized, and two are in Eddy County.
A faculty-age little one died of measles in Texas in late February, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related loss of life in an grownup on March 6. Hospital officers declined to say Sunday when the second little one in West Texas died.
What number of instances are there in Kansas?
Kansas has 24 instances in six counties within the southwest a part of the state as of Wednesday. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six instances every, whereas Grant, Morton, Haskell and Grey counties have 5 or fewer.
The state’s first reported case, recognized in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based mostly on genetic testing, a state well being division spokesperson mentioned. However well being officers haven’t decided how the particular person was uncovered.
What number of instances are there in Oklahoma?
Instances in Oklahoma remained regular Friday: eight confirmed and two possible instances. The primary two possible instances have been “related” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state well being division mentioned.
A state well being division spokesperson mentioned measles exposures have been confirmed in Tulsa and Rogers counties, however would not say which counties had instances.
What number of instances are there in Ohio?
Ohio reported one new measles case Thursday in west-central Allen County. Final week, there have been 10 in Ashtabula County within the northeast nook of the state. The primary case was in an unvaccinated grownup who had interacted with somebody who had traveled internationally.
In central Ohio, Knox County officers reported two new measles instances in worldwide guests, for 3 instances in worldwide guests whole. These instances should not included within the state’s official rely as a result of they aren’t in Ohio residents. A measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85 in 2022.
The place else is measles exhibiting up within the U.S.?
Measles instances even have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or extra associated instances. The company counted six clusters that certified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.
Within the U.S., instances and outbreaks are usually traced to somebody who caught the illness overseas. It might then unfold, particularly in communities with low vaccination charges. In 2019, the U.S. noticed 1,274 instances and virtually misplaced its standing of getting eradicated measles. Thus far in 2025, the CDC’s rely is 607.
Do you want an MMR booster?
The easiest way to keep away from measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The primary shot is really useful for kids between 12 and 15 months previous and the second between 4 and 6 years previous.
Individuals at excessive danger for an infection who acquired the photographs a few years in the past could need to contemplate getting a booster in the event that they dwell in an space with an outbreak, mentioned Scott Weaver with the World Virus Community, a world coalition. These could embody relations dwelling with somebody who has measles or these particularly susceptible to respiratory ailments due to underlying medical circumstances.
Adults with “presumptive proof of immunity” usually do not want measles photographs now, the CDC mentioned. Standards embody written documentation of sufficient vaccination earlier in life, lab affirmation of previous an infection or being born earlier than 1957, when most individuals have been prone to be contaminated naturally.
A health care provider can order a lab take a look at referred to as an MMR titer to test your ranges of measles antibodies, however well being specialists do not all the time suggest this route and insurance coverage protection can range.
Getting one other MMR shot is innocent if there are issues about waning immunity, the CDC says.
Individuals who have documentation of receiving a dwell measles vaccine within the Nineteen Sixties do not should be revaccinated, however individuals who have been immunized earlier than 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine constituted of “killed” virus ought to be revaccinated with no less than one dose, the company mentioned. That additionally consists of individuals who do not know which kind they acquired.
What are the signs of measles?
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads all through the physique, inflicting a excessive fever, runny nostril, cough, crimson, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash usually seems three to 5 days after the primary signs, starting as flat crimson spots on the face after which spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and ft. When the rash seems, the fever could spike over 104 levels Fahrenheit, in keeping with the CDC.
Most youngsters will recuperate from measles, however an infection can result in harmful issues reminiscent of pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and loss of life.
How are you going to deal with measles?
There is no particular remedy for measles, so medical doctors usually attempt to alleviate signs, forestall issues and hold sufferers snug.
Why do vaccination charges matter?
In communities with excessive vaccination charges — above 95% — ailments like measles have a more durable time spreading via communities. That is referred to as “herd immunity.”
However childhood vaccination charges have declined nationwide because the pandemic and extra dad and mom are claiming spiritual or private conscience waivers to exempt their youngsters from required photographs.
The U.S. noticed an increase in measles instances in 2024, together with an outbreak in Chicago that sickened greater than 60.
