A well being employee administers a measles take a look at on Fernando Tarin, of Seagraves, Texas, at a cellular testing website exterior Seminole Hospital District, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. Credit score: AP Photograph/Julio Cortez, File
Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico reported new measles instances this week, with the outbreak increasing for the primary time into central Texas.
Already, the U.S. has extra measles instances this yr than in all of 2024, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has stated. Different states with outbreaks—outlined as three or extra instances—embrace New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated folks have died from measles-related causes.
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 may stretch on for a yr. The World Well being Group stated final week that 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 means of vaccines, and has been thought of eradicated from the U.S. since 2000.
This is what else you should learn about measles within the U.S.
What number of measles instances are there in Texas and New Mexico?
Texas’ outbreak started two months in the past. State well being officers stated Tuesday there have been 22 new instances of measles since Friday, bringing the full to 422 throughout 19 counties—most in West Texas. Erath and Brown counties, within the central a part of the state, logged their first instances. Forty-two folks have been hospitalized for the reason that outbreak started.
New Mexico introduced 4 new instances Tuesday, bringing the state’s whole to 48. New Mexico well being officers say the instances are linked to Texas’ outbreak primarily based on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, the place two folks have been hospitalized, and two are in Eddy County.
A college-age youngster died of measles in Texas in late February, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related dying in an grownup on March 6.
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 primarily based on genetic testing, a state well being division spokesperson stated. However well being officers haven’t decided how the particular person was uncovered.
What number of instances are there in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma logged one new measles case Tuesday—for a complete of 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 stated.
A state well being division spokesperson stated 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 will not be included within the state’s official rely becuase 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 5 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 may possibly 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.
Do you want an MMR booster?
One of the best ways 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 previous and the second between 4 and 6 years previous.
Individuals at excessive danger for an infection who bought the pictures a few years in the past could need to contemplate getting a booster in the event that they stay in an space with an outbreak, stated Scott Weaver with the World Virus Community, a global coalition. These could embrace relations dwelling with somebody who has measles or these particularly weak to respiratory illnesses due to underlying medical circumstances.
Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” usually do not want measles pictures now, the CDC stated. Standards embrace written documentation of ample vaccination earlier in life, lab affirmation of previous an infection or being born earlier than 1957, when most individuals had been more likely to be contaminated naturally.
A health care provider can order a lab take a look at referred to as an MMR titer to verify your ranges of measles antibodies, however well being specialists do not at all times advocate 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 stay 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 needs to be revaccinated with not less than one dose, the company stated. That additionally contains individuals who do not know which kind they bought.
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 could spike over 104 levels Fahrenheit, in keeping with the CDC.
Most children will recuperate from measles, however an infection can result in harmful problems reminiscent of pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and dying.
How will you deal with measles?
There is no particular therapy for measles, so docs usually attempt to alleviate signs, forestall problems and maintain sufferers snug.
Why do vaccination charges matter?
In communities with excessive vaccination charges—above 95%—illnesses like measles have a more durable time spreading by means of communities. That is referred to as “herd immunity.”
However childhood vaccination charges have declined nationwide for the reason that pandemic and extra mother and father are claiming non secular or private conscience waivers to exempt their youngsters from required pictures.
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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