Nine states have confirmed recent cases of measles as part of an ongoing outbreak that could be linked to falling vaccination rates.
At least 173 Americans have been infected in 2025 with measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through airborne droplets. This is more than half the amount reported during all of last year.
In West Texas , which is suffering its worst outbreak in 30 years, an unvaccinated school-age child died earlier this week becoming the first US death from measles in a decade.
Just across the border, New Mexico has reported nine cases in adults and school-age children.
In Georgia, six members of the same Atlanta-area family fell ill with measles.
California followed closely behind with three cases, not including one in a foreign traveler who arrived at Los Angeles International (LAX) airport this week while infectious.
New Jersey and New York have each reported three and two cases, respectively, all in unvaccinated individuals.
Alaska, Washington state, and Kentucky have each had one case, according to the latest data.
Experts have blamed falling vaccination rates, especially in school-age children, and a rise in vaccine exemptions for the uptick in infections nationwide.
The ongoing measles outbreak in the US has reached at least 173 cases, with the majority centered in West Texas (stock image)
Before measles vaccines were introduced in the US in 1963, nearly all children were infected with the disease by the time they were 15. This added up to about 4million infections per year.
Measles hospitalized about 48,000 Americans per year and killed up to 500, according to the CDC.
Meanwhile, last year, the US reported 285 total cases.
According to the CDC, in 2024 vaccination coverage among kindergartners has declined for all shots – down to 93 percent for MMR.
The Texas Department of Human and Health Services reports 91 percent of kids had received the MMR shot, which is below the ideal vaccination rate.
The CDC states that a 95 percent vaccination rate in a community is required for herd immunity, making them immune.
The CDC’s official data has only been updated through February 21, so case totals are based on state health agency reporting. The true toll of the measles outbreak is likely more widespread.
Measles is transmitted through direct contact with airborne droplets that spread when a person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
The disease causes tiny white spots inside the mouth, flat red spots on the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet, ear infections and an intense fever.
Cold-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and a runny or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles before a rash develops.
In extreme cases, measles can lead to severe inflammation leading to deadly pneumonia and brain swelling, called encephalitis.
Measles has ripped its way through Texas, infecting at least 146 people, hospitalizing 20 killing one unvaccinated school-age child earlier this week.
The majority of cases have been reported in what the Texas Department of State Health Services called a ‘close-knit, under-vaccinated’ Mennonite community – a Christian sect that has historically shown vaccine hesitancy.
As of February 28, 146 cases have been reported, and 20 patients have been hospitalized.
Most Texas cases (98 so far) were in Gaines County, which sits on the border with New Mexico.
Cold-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and a runny or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles
Gaines county, with a population of just 21,598, has one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in the state, and all of its confirmed cases are in unvaccinated people.
Most cases (70) were in children ages five through 17, while 46 were found in children under four years old.
New Mexico, meanwhile, has reported nine measles cases. All of these were in Lea County, just across the border from Gaines County, Texas.
Five cases were in people over age 18, and four were in children ages five through 17.
The six Georgia cases were all members of the same family. All were unvaccinated, but it’s unclear how old they were or how severe their cases were.
As of February 22, three measles cases were reported in California, though the ages of the patients and their vaccination status is unknown.
Earlier this week, health officials in Los Angeles also confirmed a case of measles in a foreign traveler who flew in from South Korea.
Exposed individuals were told to monitor symptoms for seven to 21 days.
As of February 20, three cases have been reported in Bergen County, New Jersey, which sits just outside New York City.
All infected individuals were believed to be in close contact with each other. They were all unvaccinated, according to the state’s health department.
Both cases reported this year in New York were in New York City, but the age and vaccination status of the patients is unknown.
Vaccine uptake across the US are falling and the MMR shot that protects against measles has fallen below a dangerous threshold
Alaska’s lone measles case was reported in late January in an unvaccinated adult who traveled overseas.
Washington state confirmed one measles case earlier this week in an infant in King County, home to Seattle.
Health officials said the infant was likely infected during recent travel abroad. The infant is believed to have been unvaccinated since the shot cannot be administered until at least 12 to 15 months of age.
One adult in Kentucky was confirmed to be infected with measles this week after traveling internationally to an area with ongoing transmission. It’s unclear if the patient has been vaccinated.
The measles vaccine (MMR) is 97 percent effective as preventing the virus and is required for children to attend school, but some states like Texas allow exemptions based on religious reasons.
