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U.S. Measles Outbreak Reaches 483 Cases Across 19 States, With Texas at the Epicenter

The outbreak, driven by low vaccination rates, has resulted in two deaths and continues to grow, with the WHO warning of significant public health risks.

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.
Jennifer Sanchez holds medical records as she walks with her children after she got vaccine appointments for them at the Ector County Health Department Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Odessa, Texas.
A sign warning of measles is posted on a glass door as a patient checks in for an appointment in the family medicine wing of at the Texas Tech Physicians of the Permian Basin Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Odessa, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Overview

  • The CDC confirmed 483 measles cases across 19 states as of March 28, 2025, marking the largest outbreak in years and surpassing 2024's total of 285 cases.
  • Texas remains the epicenter with 400 cases, including 270 in Gaines County, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state.
  • Two deaths have been confirmed: one in Texas and one in New Mexico, with a third death under investigation.
  • The outbreak has spread to Mexico, prompting the WHO to issue a warning about its significant public health impact and advising international travelers to check vaccination status.
  • Efforts to contain the outbreak face challenges from vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, with 97% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.