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4w ago

U.S. Measles Outbreak Expands to 19 States with Over 400 Cases

Public health officials emphasize vaccination as cases surge, with Texas experiencing the highest toll, including one child fatality.

A nurse prepares a doze of measles vaccine at a hospital in the Moroccan coastal city of Temara on February 27, 2025. Authorities in Morocco have been scrambling to contain an outbreak of measles, a contagious and potentially fatal disease that had nearly been eradicated in the kingdom but has rebounded as vaccination rates have fallen. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP) (Photo by ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT/AFP via Getty Images)
2 cases of measles confirmed in Erie County, both linked to international travel (AP Photo/Julio Cortez), File)
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Overview

  • Over 400 measles cases have been confirmed across 19 U.S. states, with Texas reporting the majority, including 309 cases, 40 hospitalizations, and the death of an unvaccinated six-year-old girl.
  • New cases have been reported in Tennessee and Maryland, with several linked to international travel, highlighting the role of global interconnectedness in the outbreak's spread.
  • Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, particularly in Texas communities, are significant barriers to containment, with many cases occurring among unvaccinated individuals.
  • Health officials warn the outbreak could persist for up to a year without widespread vaccination efforts, as measles remains highly contagious and can linger in the air for hours.
  • Global measles cases are also rising due to disrupted vaccination programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with experts cautioning that funding cuts threaten surveillance and response capabilities.