The United States is facing its largest measles outbreak in years. As of March 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 483 measles cases across 20 U.S. jurisdictions, with Texas reporting the most severe surge.
According to the CDC, the number of cases in just three months of 2025 has already surpassed the total for all of 2024, when 285 cases were recorded. At least 70 people have required hospitalization, most of them children.
Texas at the Epicenter
The outbreak started in Gaines County, Texas, which has one of the state’s highest school vaccine exemption rates — nearly 18%. Since January, Texas has reported 400 confirmed measles cases, including 41 hospitalizations and the death of a 6-year-old child.
The virus has since spread to New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma, with 44 confirmed cases in New Mexico alone. Health officials say the outbreak is expanding rapidly due to low vaccination rates and close community contact.
Who Is Affected?
The CDC reports that 97% of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or people with unknown vaccination status. Notably, 75% of infections have occurred in people under the age of 19.
Children are especially vulnerable. Roughly 1 in 20 kids with measles develop pneumonia, a potentially fatal complication. Some suffer from brain swelling, which can lead to seizures, hearing loss, or permanent disability.
“This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health.
Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation
Although the MMR vaccine is 97% effective, vaccination rates have dropped in some areas due to rising exemptions for personal or religious reasons. The CDC estimates that while 92.7% of kindergartners nationwide have received both MMR doses, rates may be significantly lower in younger children.
Health experts also warn that misinformation is making the outbreak worse. Some parents have tried treating their children with megadoses of vitamin A at home—a method promoted by vaccine skeptics, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy recently acknowledged the severity of the Texas outbreak and said the government is supplying vaccines and resources. However, critics argue that mixed messages have confused parents and delayed response efforts.
How Measles Spreads
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. One infected person can transmit the virus to as many as 15 others. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, making it especially dangerous in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces.
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red or watery eyes
- White spots inside the mouth
- A full-body rash
According to the CDC, up to 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed will contract the virus.
What’s Being Done
To slow the spread, public health officials are ramping up vaccination efforts, especially in outbreak zones. Some health departments, including Texas, are considering early vaccinations for babies as young as 6 months, below the usual starting age of 12 months.
“Given the activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states, we’re disappointed but not surprised to see new outbreaks,” Vanderhoff added. “But we can still contain this if we act quickly.”
Although the CDC says the overall risk of widespread measles remains low, the agency is closely monitoring developments. Officials continue to urge parents to vaccinate their children on schedule and seek medical help if symptoms appear.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.