The United States has recorded 800 measles cases across 24 states as of Friday, marking a sharp resurgence of the highly contagious disease that had once been considered eliminated from the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 75% of the cases are tied to an outbreak in West Texas, where 597 infections have been reported, including two fatal cases involving unvaccinated elementary school children.
Health officials said the outbreak originated in Gaines County, a rural community where low vaccination rates have allowed the virus to spread rapidly. The county alone accounts for 371 cases, or just over 1% of its 22,892 residents. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that 62 people have been hospitalized statewide, and state officials confirmed that an 8-year-old child died of "what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure."
Texas reported 36 new cases since April 15, and an additional 62 people have been hospitalized statewide. A third death, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico, was reported earlier in March. New Mexico now has 63 cases, with most concentrated in Lea County. State officials have linked the outbreak to the one in Texas through genetic sequencing.
Other states with active outbreaks - defined as three or more cases - include Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. Kansas reported 37 cases across eight counties, with Haskell and Stevens counties showing the highest concentrations. Oklahoma's total remains at 12, while Ohio confirmed 30 cases, primarily in Ashtabula and Knox counties.
In Indiana, Allen County confirmed six measles cases, four involving unvaccinated minors. Health officials there have not found links to outbreaks in other states. In Pennsylvania, Erie County declared an outbreak earlier this week with three connected cases. Michigan confirmed three cases in Montcalm County linked to a large Canadian outbreak, with four additional unrelated cases statewide.
The overwhelming majority of infections - 96%, according to CDC data - are among unvaccinated individuals, with children under five making up 31% of total cases and nearly 20% of hospitalizations. The CDC warns that childhood vaccination rates have dropped since the pandemic, leaving more communities vulnerable.
Measles, which is spread through the air and can linger in enclosed spaces for hours, often goes undetected until a rash appears, by which point an infected person may have exposed dozens to the virus. The disease can lead to severe complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, particularly in young children and immunocompromised individuals.
The CDC continues to urge vaccination through the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Two doses provide 97% protection against infection. In communities with vaccination coverage above 95%, outbreaks are rare due to herd immunity. However, the recent decline in vaccination rates - driven by pandemic-era disruptions and a rise in personal belief exemptions - has left large portions of the population unprotected.
Outbreaks in Mexico and Canada also appear to be linked to the U.S. surge. In Ontario, 925 measles cases were reported since October. Chihuahua, Mexico, has reported 433 cases since the start of the year, with the World Health Organization noting potential links to the Texas outbreak.
The CDC classifies 10 clusters in the U.S. as active outbreaks and continues monitoring additional cases in states such as California, Florida, New York, and Washington. Health officials are warning that without a strong public health response, 2025 could surpass the 1,274 cases recorded during the last major U.S. outbreak in 2019.
