Measles Cases Surge in US: 700+ Infections & 3 Deaths Reported

Post by: Layla Badr

The number of measles cases in the United States has now gone over 700. This rise in cases happened in just one week. Indiana has now joined five other states that are already dealing with measles outbreaks. In Texas alone, 60 new cases were reported recently. Sadly, a third person has died due to the disease.

On Thursday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during a televised meeting that measles cases are no longer rising quickly. However, the virus is still spreading, especially among people who have not been vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has even sent a team back to West Texas to help.

The number of measles cases in the U.S. so far this year is more than double the total from 2024. Texas has the most cases, with 541 reported so far.

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Texas Cases and Deaths

Texas’ outbreak started in late January. On Friday, health officials said the state now has 541 measles cases across 22 counties. Most of these are in West Texas. So far, 56 people in Texas have been hospitalized.

About 5% of current cases in Texas are still contagious, meaning those people can still spread the virus.

Gaines County, a small county in West Texas, has seen 355 cases. That’s more than 1% of the people who live there. The outbreak there started in a tight-knit Mennonite community where many people are not vaccinated.

Two young children in Texas, both unvaccinated, have died due to measles. One was 6 years old and died in late February. The other was 8 and died last week from what doctors called “measles pulmonary failure.” This means the virus caused the lungs to stop working properly. Neither child had other health problems.

New Mexico Update

New Mexico now has 58 measles cases. Health experts say these are linked to the Texas outbreak based on lab testing. Most of New Mexico’s cases are in Lea County. Two people have been hospitalized. There are also cases in Eddy and Chaves counties.

New Mexico’s first death from measles was an adult who died on March 6. That person was also not vaccinated.

Kansas Update

Kansas has 32 measles cases in eight counties in the southwestern part of the state. The counties include Haskell (8 cases), Stevens (7), Kiowa (6), and others with fewer than five each. Two new counties with cases are Finney and Ford, which are more populated areas.

The first case in Kansas was found on March 13 in Stevens County. It has been linked to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. However, it’s not clear how the person got the virus.

Oklahoma Update

Oklahoma now has 12 measles cases — nine confirmed and three still being checked. Two of the first cases were connected to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks. State officials have confirmed that people in Tulsa and Rogers counties were exposed to the virus.

Ohio Update

Ohio has 20 confirmed cases. Eleven are in Ashtabula County (near Cleveland), seven in Knox County, and one each in Allen and Holmes counties. Knox County has reported 14 cases in total, but seven of those are from people who don’t live in Ohio.

The first case in Ashtabula County was an adult who had not been vaccinated and had contact with someone who had traveled to another country.

Indiana Update

Indiana has six confirmed measles cases in Allen County, which is in the northeastern part of the state. Four are unvaccinated children. The other two are adults, and it’s not known if they were vaccinated. These cases are all connected, but they are not linked to other outbreaks in the country.

What Are the Symptoms of Measles?

Measles usually starts with signs like a high fever, a runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. A rash often appears 3 to 5 days after these first symptoms. It begins as flat red spots on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, the fever can rise above 104°F.

Most people, especially kids, get better after a few days. But measles can cause serious problems like pneumonia (lung infection), blindness, brain swelling, or even death.

Is There a Treatment?

There is no special medicine to cure measles. Doctors focus on treating the symptoms and helping patients feel better while their body fights the virus.

Why Is Vaccination So Important?

In places where almost everyone is vaccinated — at least 95% of the people — measles has a harder time spreading. This is known as “herd immunity.”

But vaccination rates have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic. More parents are now using religious or personal reasons to avoid getting their children vaccinated.

In 2024, measles cases were already rising, including an outbreak in Chicago that made more than 60 people sick.

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