Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, arrives at Reinlander Mennonite Church after a second measles dying, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. Credit score: AP Picture/Annie Rice
Indiana well being officers introduced a measles outbreak Wednesday, with six instances that haven’t any recognized hyperlinks to the outbreaks in a number of different states.
The U.S. has greater than double the variety of measles instances it noticed in all of 2024.
Texas is reporting nearly all of them with 505. The instances embody two younger elementary school-aged youngsters who weren’t vaccinated and died from measles-related sicknesses close to the epicenter of the outbreak in rural Texas, which led Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to go to the group on Sunday.
Different states with energetic outbreaks—outlined as three or extra instances—embody New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. The virus has been spreading in undervaccinated communities. The third one that died was an grownup in New Mexico who was not vaccinated.
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 has mentioned instances in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.
Measles is attributable to a extremely contagious virus that is airborne and spreads simply when an contaminated particular person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It’s preventable by vaccines, and has been thought of eradicated from the U.S. since 2000.
Here is what else it’s worthwhile to find out about measles within the U.S.
What number of measles instances are there in Texas and New Mexico?
Texas’ outbreak started in late January. State well being officers mentioned Tuesday there have been 24 new instances of measles since Friday, bringing the full to 505 throughout 21 counties—most of them in West Texas. The state additionally logged one new hospitalization, for a complete of 57 all through the outbreak.
Sixty-five p.c of Texas’ instances are in Gaines County, inhabitants 22,892, the place the virus said spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite group. The county now has logged 328 instances since late January—simply over 1% of the county’s residents.
Thursday’s dying in Texas was an 8-year-old youngster, based on Kennedy. Well being officers in Texas mentioned the kid didn’t have underlying well being situations and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A toddler died of measles in Texas in late February—Kennedy mentioned age 6.
New Mexico introduced two new instances Tuesday, bringing the state’s whole to 56. State well being officers say the instances are linked to Texas’ outbreak based mostly on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, the place two individuals have been hospitalized, two are in Eddy County and Chaves County was new to the checklist Tuesday with one case.
New Mexico reported its first measles-related dying in an grownup on March 6.
What number of instances are there in Kansas?
Kansas has 32 instances in eight counties within the southwest a part of the state, well being officers introduced Wednesday. Two of the counties, Finney and Ford, are new on the checklist and are main inhabitants facilities in that a part of the state. Haskell has essentially the most with eight instances, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six, and the remainder 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?
Circumstances in Oklahoma remained regular Tuesday: eight confirmed and two possible instances. The primary two possible instances had been “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state well being division mentioned.
A state well being division spokesperson mentioned measles exposures had 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 are usually not included within the state’s official rely as a result of they don’t seem to be in Ohio residents. A measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85 in 2022.
A measles signal is seen on the Texas Tech College Well being Sciences Middle, Feb. 25, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. Credit score: AP Picture/Julio Cortez, file
What number of instances are there in Indiana?
Indiana confirmed six linked instances of measles in Allen County within the northeast a part of the state—4 are unvaccinated minors and two are adults whose vaccination standing is unknown.
The instances haven’t any recognized hyperlink to different outbreaks, the Allen County Division of Well being mentioned Wednesday. The primary case was confirmed Monday.
The place else is measles exhibiting up within the U.S.?
Measles instances even have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, 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 will probably then unfold, particularly in communities with low vaccination charges. In 2019, the U.S. noticed 1,274 instances and nearly misplaced its standing of getting eradicated measles. To this point 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 youngsters between 12 and 15 months outdated and the second between 4 and 6 years outdated.
Individuals at excessive threat for an infection who acquired the photographs a few years in the past might need to think about getting a booster in the event that they reside in an space with an outbreak, mentioned Scott Weaver with the International Virus Community, a global coalition. These might embody members of the family dwelling with somebody who has measles or these particularly weak to respiratory ailments due to underlying medical situations.
Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” usually do not want measles photographs now, the CDC mentioned. Standards embody written documentation of satisfactory vaccination earlier in life, lab affirmation of previous an infection or being born earlier than 1957, when most individuals had been prone to be contaminated naturally.
A health care provider can order a lab check referred to as an MMR titer to examine 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 reside measles vaccine within the Nineteen Sixties do not should be revaccinated, however individuals who had been immunized earlier than 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine constructed from “killed” virus ought to be revaccinated with no less than one dose, the company mentioned. That additionally contains 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, pink, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash usually seems three to 5 days after the primary signs, starting as flat pink spots on the face after which spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and toes. When the rash seems, the fever might spike over 104 levels Fahrenheit, based on the CDC.
Most youngsters will recuperate from measles, however an infection can result in harmful problems reminiscent of pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and dying.
How are you going to deal with measles?
There is no particular therapy for measles, so medical doctors usually attempt to alleviate signs, forestall problems and maintain sufferers comfy.
Why do vaccination charges matter?
In communities with excessive vaccination charges—above 95%—ailments like measles have a tougher time spreading by communities. That is referred to as “herd immunity.”
However childhood vaccination charges have declined nationwide for the reason that 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.
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