Well being division employees members enter the Andrews County Well being Division measles clinic carrying doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. Credit score: AP Picture/Annie Rice
A measles outbreak in Knox County, Ohio, grew to 14 circumstances this week, with the state’s total rely in double digits throughout 4 counties.
The U.S. has greater than double the variety of measles circumstances it noticed in all of 2024, and Texas is reporting nearly all of them with 505.
Texas’ circumstances embody two younger elementary school-aged kids who weren’t vaccinated and died from measles-related diseases close to the epicenter of the outbreak in rural West 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 circumstances—embody New Mexico, Indiana, Kansas 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 yr. The World Well being Group has stated circumstances 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 by vaccines, and has been thought-about eradicated from the U.S. since 2000.
This is what else you must find out about measles within the U.S.
What number of measles circumstances are there in Texas and New Mexico?
Texas’ outbreak started in late January. State well being officers stated Tuesday there have been 24 new circumstances of measles since Friday, bringing the whole 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’ circumstances 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 circumstances since late January—simply over 1% of the county’s residents.
Thursday’s dying in Texas was an 8-year-old baby, based on Kennedy. Well being officers in Texas stated the kid didn’t have underlying well being circumstances and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A baby died of measles in Texas in late February—Kennedy stated age 6.
New Mexico introduced two new circumstances Tuesday, bringing the state’s complete to 56. State well being officers say the circumstances are linked to Texas’ outbreak primarily based 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 listing Tuesday with one case.
New Mexico reported its first measles-related dying in an grownup on March 6.
What number of circumstances are there in Kansas?
Kansas has 32 circumstances 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 listing and are main inhabitants facilities in that a part of the state. Haskell has essentially the most with eight circumstances, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six, and the remaining 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 circumstances are there in Oklahoma?
Circumstances in Oklahoma remained regular Tuesday: eight confirmed and two possible circumstances. The primary two possible circumstances 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 circumstances.
What number of circumstances are there in Ohio?
The Ohio Division of Well being confirmed 20 measles circumstances within the state as of Thursday: 11 in Ashtabula County close to Cleveland, seven in Knox County and one every in Allen and Holmes counties.
The outbreak in Ashtabula County began with an unvaccinated grownup who had interacted with somebody who had traveled internationally.
What number of circumstances are there in Indiana?
Indiana confirmed six linked circumstances 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 circumstances haven’t any recognized hyperlink to different outbreaks, the Allen County Division of Well being stated Wednesday. The primary case was confirmed Monday.
The place else is measles displaying up within the U.S.?
Measles circumstances 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 circumstances. The company counted six clusters that certified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.
Within the U.S., circumstances and outbreaks are typically traced to somebody who caught the illness overseas. It might probably then unfold, particularly in communities with low vaccination charges. In 2019, the U.S. noticed 1,274 circumstances and virtually misplaced its standing of getting eradicated measles. To date 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 helpful for youngsters between 12 and 15 months outdated and the second between 4 and 6 years outdated.
Folks at excessive threat for an infection who received the pictures a few years in the past could need to take into account getting a booster in the event that they reside in an space with an outbreak, stated Scott Weaver with the World Virus Community, a global coalition. These could embody relations dwelling with somebody who has measles or these particularly susceptible to respiratory illnesses due to underlying medical circumstances.
Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” typically do not want measles pictures now, the CDC stated. 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 had been more likely to be contaminated naturally.
A physician can order a lab take a look at known as an MMR titer to verify your ranges of measles antibodies, however well being specialists do not all the time advocate this route and insurance coverage protection can fluctuate.
Getting one other MMR shot is innocent if there are considerations about waning immunity, the CDC says.
Individuals who have documentation of receiving a reside measles vaccine within the Sixties do not have to be revaccinated, however individuals who had been immunized earlier than 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine comprised of “killed” virus needs to be revaccinated with not less than one dose, the company stated. That additionally consists of individuals who do not know which sort they received.
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, purple, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash typically seems three to 5 days after the primary signs, starting as flat purple 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, based on the CDC.
Most youngsters will recuperate from measles, however an infection can result in harmful issues reminiscent of pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and dying.
How will you deal with measles?
There isn’t any particular therapy for measles, so docs typically attempt to alleviate signs, stop issues and hold sufferers comfy.
Why do vaccination charges matter?
In communities with excessive vaccination charges—above 95%—illnesses like measles have a more durable time spreading by communities. That is known as “herd immunity.”
However childhood vaccination charges have declined nationwide because the pandemic and extra mother and father are claiming non secular or private conscience waivers to exempt their children from required pictures.
The U.S. noticed an increase in measles circumstances in 2024, together with an outbreak in Chicago that sickened greater than 60.
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