Measles Cases Surge in the U.S., Exceeding 2024 Totals Within Months
The United States is grappling with a resurgence of measles, with cases exceeding 300 in 2025 and outbreaks spreading across multiple states. Texas is currently at the epicenter of the crisis, reporting the highest number of infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on Friday, confirming 301 cases of measles in 15 states since the beginning of the year. A staggering 93% of these cases are directly linked to ongoing outbreaks. Tragically, two individuals, a young girl in Texas and an adult in New Mexico, both unvaccinated, have succumbed to the disease.
This escalating situation represents a significant setback in public health efforts to control measles. In 2024, the U.S. recorded a total of 285 confirmed cases across 33 states. The fact that the 2024 total has been surpassed within the first two and a half months of 2025 is deeply concerning, indicating a rapid acceleration of the outbreak.
Demographic Breakdown of Cases
The majority of measles cases, approximately 75%, are occurring in children and teenagers aged 19 or under. A concerning 95% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Only a small fraction, 2%, of the confirmed cases were in individuals who had received the full two-dose MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. This stark contrast highlights the critical role of vaccination in preventing measles infection and underscores the vulnerability of unvaccinated populations.
Emerging Outbreaks in New States
The measles outbreak is no longer confined to a few isolated areas. Two new states, Oklahoma and Vermont, recently reported their first cases of the disease. The Vermont case involved a child who contracted the virus while traveling abroad. However, the two cases in Oklahoma are directly linked to the ongoing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, indicating a potential spread of the virus across state lines.
Texas and New Mexico Bear the Brunt of the Outbreak
Texas and New Mexico are facing the most severe consequences of the measles resurgence. As of Friday afternoon, Texas had reported 259 measles infections, resulting in 34 hospitalizations. The majority of cases in Texas (174) are concentrated in Gaines County, and most infections (201) have occurred in children under 18. Alarmingly, all but two of the Texas cases were in unvaccinated individuals.
New Mexico has confirmed 35 cases of measles, leading to two hospitalizations. The majority of cases in New Mexico are located in Lea County. Fifteen of the confirmed cases are in individuals under 18, and all but two were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
States Reporting Measles Cases
As of March 14, measles cases have been reported in the following 15 states:
- Alaska
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
New York City recently reported its second measles case, indicating that even areas with established public health infrastructure are not immune to the spread of the virus.
CDC Updates and Reporting Discrepancies
The CDC began providing weekly updates on the measles outbreak on February 21. In its latest report, the agency noted that additional cases are under investigation, but only formally confirmed infections are included in the official data. There is a slight discrepancy between the CDC’s reported case count (301) and the total number of cases reported by individual state health departments (316). This difference highlights the challenges in collecting and consolidating data during a rapidly evolving outbreak.
Understanding Measles: A Highly Contagious Virus
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that primarily affects children. The virus infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known to exist. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the virus will contract the disease. Furthermore, the CDC estimates that one in five people with measles will require hospitalization.
Symptoms and Prevention
Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Initial symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. A characteristic measles rash appears three to five days after the onset of these initial symptoms.
The most effective way to prevent measles is through vaccination with the MMR vaccine. The CDC recommends that all children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose administered at 4 to 6 years of age.
The Importance of Vaccination
The current measles outbreak underscores the critical importance of vaccination in protecting individuals and communities from preventable diseases. High vaccination rates are essential to achieving herd immunity, which protects vulnerable populations who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants and individuals with certain medical conditions. The spread of misinformation about vaccines has contributed to declining vaccination rates in some areas, increasing the risk of outbreaks. Public health officials are working to combat vaccine hesitancy and promote the importance of vaccination in preventing measles and other infectious diseases. The rise in cases should be considered a serious public health crisis and acted upon with urgency.
