Overview

• The U.S. has confirmed 800 measles cases across 27 states, with Louisiana, Missouri, and Virginia identifying their first cases over the weekend, all tied to international travel.
• West Texas remains the hardest-hit region, reporting 597 cases, including two child deaths, marking the first U.S. measles fatalities in a decade.
• Health officials report that 96% of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, highlighting the impact of low immunization rates.
• The CDC and state agencies are intensifying vaccination campaigns, isolation protocols, and contact tracing to curb the highly contagious disease.
• This outbreak is the largest in six years, nearly tripling last year’s total of 285 cases and raising concerns about the U.S.'s measles elimination status.