At least 3% of measles cases this year were in people who were fully vaccinated, CDC says
About three dozen of the nearly 1,200 measles infections in 2025 have been in people with two vaccine doses, the agency said Friday in its weekly update on cases. An additional 2% of cases were in people who received at least one dose of the measles vaccine.
Many of the cases were in Texas, which on Tuesday counted a 21st confirmed measles case in someone with at least two doses of the vaccine.
The first 20 cases did not result in hospitalizations, Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said Monday. Those cases were in children 8 years old or younger.
Anton did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the additional case, which was reported on Tuesday after she spoke to CBS News.
The first 20 cases also did not include people who received their second dose as a result of post-exposure prophylaxis, Anton said. Post-exposure prophylaxis is offering someone a drug or vaccine after they are exposed to a germ, to reduce the chance they will be infected or develop severe disease.
The CDC says people exposed to measles can get vaccinated within 72 hours of when they were first exposed, if they are not fully immunized.
"If administered within 72 hours of initial measles exposure, MMR vaccine might provide some protection against infection or modify the clinical course of disease," the agency's recommendations say.
Texas has seen a deadly outbreak of the highly contagious virus this year. While cases there have recently slowed, CDC officials have said that authorities have been tracking more outbreaks in other communities across the U.S. linked to travel outside and inside the country.
"Additional cases have been seeded from the outbreak in Texas, as well as related outbreaks in Mexico and Canada. Additionally, measles importation from international travel continues, especially as the busy summer of travel season ramps up," Brian Wakeman, deputy lead of the CDC's measles laboratory task force, said Monday.
Wakeman, who spoke on a nationwide call for testing laboratories, said the U.S. is now on pace to top the 1,274 cases of measles seen in 2019. That was the most cases the U.S. has seen in a single year since endemic spread of the virus was declared "eliminated" at the end of the 20th century.
"We're also on pace to be the greatest number of measles cases since the early 90s," Wakeman said.
Six cases of measles in people who received at least two doses of the vaccine have also been in Colorado, that state's health department says.
"None of the six cases with 2+ doses were seniors or required hospitalization," Hope Shuler, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said in an email.
Health authorities and experts have called for some seniors to check if they need a measles booster, especially if they are planning to travel, because of the kind of measles vaccines that were used before 1968.
"That group is unlikely to have robust immunity from infection, because at that point in time, they were using less effective vaccines," said Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News.
Colorado says many of its vaccinated cases have been in residents who were exposed during travel to other parts of the world facing large outbreaks like Canada and Europe.
The state previously said it had linked multiple cases to an infectious traveler who exposed others at Denver International Airport and on a Turkish Airlines flight.
The CDC has also issued new guidance for summer camps to prepare for the threat of measles spread this year, including urging camp operators to check for documentation of immunity among staff and children.
Measles vaccines are 97% effective at preventing measles after two doses and 93% after one dose, the CDC says.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
25 minutes ago
- Fox News
Forget 10,000 steps — research reveals the real number you need for better health
You may not need as many steps as you thought. Ten thousand steps per day has been widely recommended as the standard benchmark for physical activity — but a new study suggests that just 7,000 could be enough to boost essential health markers. Researchers from the University of Sydney conducted a review of 57 studies spanning more than 10 countries, which tracked participants' steps and health outcomes. SIMPLE JAPANESE FITNESS TREND COULD ADD 7 YEARS TO LIFE EXPECTANCY, EXPERTS SAY Led by Professor Melody Ding from the School of Public Health, the team looked at how different daily step counts impacted the risk of dying from heart disease and cancer, as well as the risk of developing cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia and depression, according to a university press release. They found that walking at least 7,000 steps a day was linked to improvement in eight major health outcomes, including heart disease, dementia and depressive symptoms. "Any increase in daily steps, even modest ones like 4,000 steps, delivers health benefits compared to very low activity levels," Ding told Fox News Digital. "When possible, targeting around 7,000 steps per day can substantially reduce risks for many chronic diseases and adverse health outcomes." "Even small increases in step counts, such as increasing from 2,000 to 4,000 steps a day, are associated with significant health gain." Higher step counts beyond 7,000 may add extra benefits, but the improvement rate slows, she noted. The results were published in The Lancet Public Health journal. In particular, the researchers found that walking 7,000 steps a day reduced the risk of death by 47%, almost exactly the same as 10,000 steps. That same step benchmark was also linked to a 38% reduced risk of dementia and a 22% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, both only slightly lower than the benefit of 10,000 steps, the release stated. "Significant health improvements" were reported when people increased from 2,000 steps per day to anywhere between 5,000 and 7,000. "Aiming for 7,000 steps is a realistic goal based on our findings, which assessed health outcomes in a range of areas that hadn't been looked at before," said Professor Ding in the release. "However, for those who cannot yet achieve 7,000 steps a day, even small increases in step counts, such as increasing from 2,000 to 4,000 steps a day, are associated with significant health gain." For those who are already very active and consistently hitting 10,000+ steps, Ding said, "keep it up — there's no need to cut back." The researchers also noted that stepping doesn't need to happen all at once or require intentional exercise. "Everyday movements count — like getting off the bus a stop earlier or choosing stairs over elevators," Ding advised. "Small, incidental bouts throughout the day add up and contribute to health. Embrace opportunities to move more in practical, enjoyable ways." There were some limitations in the study, the researchers noted. "For some outcomes, we have a small number of studies," Ding told Fox News Digital. There are also some study-level biases, she said. "For example, people who are already unwell will take fewer steps because of their health conditions," Ding said. "And while there is an indication that the dose-response may be different for older adults, we didn't have enough data for all outcomes to explore it." It's also important to note that while walking offers great health benefits, it is not a complete "package" in itself, she noted. "Everyday movements count — like getting off the bus a stop earlier or choosing stairs over elevators." "Try to also incorporate strength training and mobility exercise into a weekly routine for more complete health benefits." In next steps, the researchers plan to use these findings to shape future physical activity guidelines. For more Health articles, visit Experts recommend that future studies of step count impacts should focus on variations for age, health status and region, the release stated. "Our research helps to shift the focus from perfection to progress," Ding said. "Even small increases in daily movement can lead to meaningful health improvements."
Wall Street Journal
25 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Vinay Prasad Is a Bernie Sanders Acolyte in MAHA Drag
Meet Vinay Prasad, a young disciple of Bernie Sanders who ranks as one of the most powerful officials in the federal government. He determines whether patients get access to many life-saving medicines. Or not. Think of him as a one-man death panel. Dr. Prasad was named by Marty Makary, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, as head of the agency's biologics division in May, and last month as its chief medical and scientific officer. More on why he was tapped to these posts later. But it isn't an exaggeration to say that Dr. Prasad wields more power than Anthony Fauci ever did at the National Institutes of Health.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Maryland Institute College of Art teams up with senior living center for art display
A unique partnership between the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and a senior living center is on display in Baltimore. MICA's community arts program agreed to lead art classes for the residents of the North Oaks Senior Living Community, with their artwork out for all visitors to admire at its Fred Lazarus Center. North Oaks is a multi-level retirement community that offers independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. "When you have an opportunity to express yourself, you never know what's going to come out," said Susan Sidle, a North Oaks Senior Living Community resident. The exhibit will be on display through Sunday, August 3. Lorena Garcia, a MICA graduate student, taught the classes during her 2025 spring semester to more than 30 residents at North Oak. "Our goal was really not to just work one specific medium, such as just painting, but to explore collages, to explore clay, to explore jewelry making," Garcia said. According to research from the National Library of Medicine, creative activities like arts and crafts can promote healthy aging, even prolong someone's life. Research also shows that creating art can help improve small motor skills and boost self-confidence. "In the community arts program, we work with a variety of intergenerational populations throughout Baltimore city, providing art space and educational workshops for them and with them as well," said Unique Robinson, the director of community arts at MICA. "To make something that you're proud of, to discover a different aspect of yourself, I think is something is something at any age you can do," Garcia added. North Oaks Senior Living Community residents Jules and Susan Sidle aren't your typical artists or couple. For the Sidles and their friends, Gloria Greenspun and Nadine Goldman, art is timeless. As a matter of fact, they told WJZ most of them have never painted or had their work on display in an art exhibit before. "I had the best time and smiled and laughed and had a great time and learned something as well," Greenspun said. "I felt better about myself." The four residents who have known each other for decades decided the art class would be an enjoyable activity they could do together. "Everybody has a skill, you just have to use it," said Jules Sidle.
