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U.S. Measles Cases Surge to 800, Threatening Elimination Status

The outbreak, originating in Texas, has spread to 24 states, with two confirmed deaths and a third under investigation, as vaccination gaps fuel the crisis.

Health department staff members enter the Andrews County Health Department measles clinic carrying doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. 
A sign outside Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 warns residents to call ahead before visiting a doctor or hospital if they think they have the measles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins
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A sign reading "measles testing" is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas, U.S., February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Sebastian Rocandio/File Photo

Overview

  • The CDC reports 800 confirmed measles cases across 24 states, with Texas accounting for 597 of them, marking a sharp increase from earlier this month.
  • Two unvaccinated children in Texas have died, and a third death in New Mexico is under investigation, highlighting the severity of the outbreak.
  • Ontario, Canada, has reported 925 cases since October, with 69 hospitalizations, while Michigan and Montana have seen their first outbreaks in years.
  • Ninety-six percent of U.S. cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, exacerbated by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
  • Public health officials warn that sustained transmission could jeopardize the U.S.'s measles elimination status, achieved in 2000, if the outbreak persists past January 2026.