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Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Measles cases in US reach all-time high after disease was declared 'eliminated': Check symptoms and prevention tips
The United States has broken its record for the highest number of measles cases in the country since the disease was eliminated in 2000, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI). The annual tally of measles cases in the US is the highest in 33 years, as an ongoing outbreak in west Texas continues to drive cases. The surge in number of measles cases comes at a time when childhood vaccination rates are falling and a rise in anti-vaccine sentiment. The center reports that there are now 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia, the highest annual tally since 1992. This figure has already surpassed the 1,274 cases recorded during the peak year of 2019, marking a critical public health milestone reached just halfway through 2025. According to experts, this year measles' cases are likely severely undercounted because many are going unreported, The Hill reports. There have been at least 155 hospitalizations and three confirmed deaths from measles this year, including two otherwise healthy but unvaccinated children in Texas. A third death was reported in New Mexico in an unvaccinated adult who tested positive after dying. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Washing Fruit With Baking Soda? Here's What You Should Know Read More Undo ALSO READ: Student Loan Forgiveness programs to undergo massive changes under Trump 2.0. Are you at risk? 'It's a harbinger of things to come,' Eric Ball, a leading pediatrician, told the Washington Post. 'Once we see a resurgence of measles, we know that other diseases are going to come behind it.' Live Events 'When you talk to people on the ground, you get the sense that this outbreak has been severely underestimated,' Dr Paul Offit, director of the vaccine education center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia told The Guardian. Confirmed cases appear to be the 'tip of a much bigger iceberg', he said. Texas reports highest number of measles cases The majority of cases stem from a large outbreak originating in West Texas, where 753 confirmed cases have been reported across 36 counties since January. Gaines County remains the epicenter, with 55 percent of Texas cases concentrated in this area after the virus spread through a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. Some critics say Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts to contain the epidemic in the tight-knit, religious West Texas community ran counter to established public health strategies used to end past epidemics, according to NewsWeek. ALSO READ: 'Horrific': Houston pediatrician fired over vile post suggesting Texas flood victims were Trump supporters Confirmed measles cases have been reported by 39 states and jurisdictions, with Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas showing the highest concentrations. Active outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases, are occurring in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah. Kentucky reported its first outbreak of 2025 last month. What are the symptoms of measles? The symptoms of measles appear seven to 14 days after virus contact and it includes high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Measles is a viral disease characterized by a top-down rash, high fever, runny nose and red, watery eyes. The virus is one of the most infectious diseases known to medicine. There is no cure for measles. The rash typically emerges three to five days after the first symptoms and is often paired with fever spikes that can exceed 104°F. Tiny white spots inside the mouth, known as Koplik's spots, may develop two to three days after symptoms start. ALSO READ: Barron Trump's love life revealed: US President's son has a mysterious girlfriend amid college life? What we know How to stay safe? Two doses of MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, according to CDC. Measles is very contagious. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been. This can happen even up to 2 hours after that person has left. Anyone showing symptoms should contact a healthcare provider immediately. Wash your hands frequently, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. These practices can help prevent the spread of measles and other infectious diseases. If you are planning to travel, especially internationally, ensure you're fully vaccinated at least two weeks before departure. "Measles can live in the air for 2 hours after an infectious person leaves the space. Before any international travel, evaluate if your family needs early vaccine doses," the US CDC advises.
Boston Globe
08-07-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
US measles cases reach 33-year high as outbreaks spread
The nation surpassed infections reported in 2019, reaching the largest number of cases since 1992, when officials recorded more than 2,100 infections, according to data published Friday from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI). 'It's devastating,' said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, a national organization of state and local immunization officials. 'We worked so hard to eliminate the threat of measles and to keep it at bay.' Authorities said at least 155 people have been hospitalized and three people have died of measles-related complications this year. The dead include two otherwise healthy children in Texas and a man in New Mexico, all of whom were unvaccinated. In contrast, only three measles deaths were reported between 2001 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up About 92 percent of measles cases in 2025 were in people who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, according to the CDC. Advertisement Data from the CDC does not yet reflect the record as it is updated weekly on Wednesdays, while the Johns Hopkins' site validates data every weekday. The largest outbreak has been in West Texas, where officials have recorded more than 750 cases since late January and believe the true toll is much higher. Data shows that outbreak has slowed, but that it has spread to surrounding states. Advertisement Unrelated clusters of cases emerged elsewhere, usually originating with an unvaccinated person who traveled abroad. Measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000 with high vaccination coverage and rapid outbreak response. Cases still popped up periodically. But in recent years, large outbreaks with 50 or more cases have become more frequent, especially in close-knit communities with low vaccination coverage. Public health experts say the country is on track to lose the elimination status if there is continuous spread of linked measles cases for more than 12 months. 'It's a harbinger of things to come,' said Eric Ball, a pediatrician who heads the California chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 'Once we see a resurgence of measles, we know that other diseases are going to come behind it.' Misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine fueled the 1,274 cases recorded in 2019, according to public health officials and researchers. The outbreaks that year were concentrated in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York, highlighting the risks in tight-knit communities where vaccine distrust takes hold. Confidence in public health measures, especially vaccines, has fallen since then, and is sharply divided along political lines. The national rate for MMR vaccination among kindergartners was slightly above 95 percent in 2019, the level of community protection scientists say is needed to prevent measles outbreaks. But that rate is now under 93 percent and falling, according to the CDC. Even in states with high vaccination coverage, pockets of unvaccinated people tend to cluster together. Measles is so contagious that a person without immunity exposed to the virus is highly likely to be infected and to spread it days before they develop symptoms. Advertisement A recent study showed that if US vaccination rates continue to decline, the nation could face millions of cases over the next 25 years. A poll conducted in March by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation found that 79 percent of adults say parents should be required to have children vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella to attend school. Support was stronger among Democrats, 90 percent, than among Republicans, 68 percent. Five years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, less than half the public says it has at least some confidence in federal health agencies to carry out core public health responsibilities, according to a poll conducted in April by the health care think tank KFF. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime antivaccine activist who ascended to be the top US health official, has offered mixed messages about measles and the vaccine to prevent it. He initially downplayed the seriousness of the Texas outbreak after the first child died, saying: 'We have measles outbreaks every year.' He accompanied his calls for vaccination with caveats, raising concerns about the shots that public health experts called unfounded. Nola Jean Ernest, a pediatrician in rural southeastern Alabama, said many of her patients trust others who share their political views more than her when it comes to vaccination. She now sees patients who vaccinated older children refuse to vaccinate their infants. 'I've had several conversations in the last few months where they will say, 'We still trust you, we just don't trust the vaccines,'' Ernest said recently. 'That really breaks my heart.' Advertisement In Texas, infections in late January spread quickly within Gaines County's Mennonite community, some of whom educate their children at home or at private schools without vaccine mandates. The county had among the lowest kindergarten MMR vaccination rates in Texas, about 82 percent, according to state immunization data. Public health officials said they faced challenges in controlling the outbreak because many people were not getting tested or vaccinated for measles. Antivaccine groups mobilized quickly on the ground. Many Mennonite families turned to a prominent antivaccine doctor who offered unproven alternative treatments. Kennedy praised that doctor and his methods in a visit to the region. Children's Health Defense, an antivaccine group founded by Kennedy, interviewed the parents of a 6-year-old girl who died of measles, blaming her death on medical error rather than vaccination status. The organization did not immediately return a request for comment. Eventually, 36 Texas counties reported measles cases. Young adults from El Paso who work in oil fields close to Gaines County were among those infected this spring. El Paso went from five cases to 53 in a month, said Hector Ocaranza, director of the city and county health authority. Ocaranza said his community was vulnerable because a growing number of young adults, listening to what they see and hear on social media, are not getting vaccinated. Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health Department, said last week that the reporting of new measles cases has slowed, crediting rising population immunity from infections and increased vaccination. But the outbreak is not over. Advertisement Transmission is continuing in Gaines County, as well as Lamar County, in northeast Texas bordering Oklahoma, according to health department data. In Chihuahua, Mexico, which borders Texas and New Mexico, a child who visited Texas in February started a large measles outbreak that now exceeds 2,400 cases and eight deaths as of last week, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization. Measles outbreaks require vast personnel, time, dollars, and messaging, public health experts say. The 2019 outbreak cost New York City $8.4 million with 550 staff involved in the response, according to a 2020 report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Funding for state and local public health agencies, including immunization programs, has been slashed after increasing during the pandemic. Public health workers have been laid off because of widespread budget cuts across the federal health agencies. Because of the decreased funding, Texas had to pull resources and staff from other parts of its health department to respond to the outbreak, David Sugerman, a senior CDC scientist, told a committee of agency vaccine advisers in April. In Dallas, which has had one measles case this year, health officials had to lay off 16 immunization staff because of federal cuts, said Philip Huang, director of the county's health and human services department. 'The fact that this is occurring at the same time that we are seeing more measles cases in Texas than we have seen in more than 30 years makes absolutely no sense,' Huang said. Related : Related :
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Hit Hardest by Measles Outbreak as Cases Break Record
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has already seen more measles cases in 2025 than in any year since the virus was declared eliminated nationally in 2000, with 1,277 confirmed cases as of Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation. Dr. Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern University's public health program, told Newsweek that this news is "very concerning" and warned there could be future outbreaks over the coming years if trends surrounding vaccinations do not reverse. Here is a look at which states have seen the highest number of cases this year. Why It Matters The 1,277 figure outpaces the 1,274 cases reported during the 2019 peak, only about halfway through the year. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. by 2000 due to the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine approved in 1971. The vaccine, which is easily accessible in the country, has been touted by public health experts as a safe and effective way to mitigate the spread of the virus and prevent serious illness. However, a recent rise in vaccine skepticism associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has left a growing number of children vulnerable to infection amid new outbreaks of the virus, which can cause serious health complications or even death. What to Know Most measles cases this year stem from a large outbreak originating in West Texas' Gaines County, home to a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. There have been 155 hospitalizations across the country and three confirmed deaths so far this year. Experts attribute the current surge to declining childhood vaccination rates, a trend that worsened after the pandemic due to increased vaccine hesitancy, though most public health officials say the vaccination remains safe despite concerns—and misinformation that has spread. In Texas, there have been 790 cases of measles so far in 2025, according to data from Johns Hopkins. Neighboring state New Mexico places second with 95 cases, while Kansas has seen 83 confirmed measles cases this year. Ohio has seen 35 cases this year, while North Dakota rounds out the five states with the most cases at 34 confirmed instances of the virus. Maniar said the increased number of cases is unsurprising given the rise in anti-vaccine sentiment over recent years. There are several things that must happen to prevent future outbreaks, including improvements to the infrastructure to ensure all communities have access to vaccines, as well as efforts to educate people about and restore trust in vaccines, he said. "Measles is one of the most infectious diseases out there. Even though we have highly effective vaccine, we see many areas across the country fall below that threshold of herd immunity, 95 percent threshold," Maniar said. "I think one can anticipate that we'll see this types of outbreaks." Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told Newsweek the rise in cases is an international phenomenon tied to both anti-vaccine sentiment, as well as people believing that measles is no longer a problem. "We have a lot of work to do," he said. "How do we message to those who refuse to vaccinate or get vaccinated? This is a real problem. We have many more questions than we have answers." He pointed to Canada—where there have been more than 3,500 new cases this year—as an example of how rising measles cases is a global challenge. A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson told Newsweek that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has given clear guidance that vaccines are the most effective way to prevent measles. The spokesperson noted that HHS recognizes that some individuals and communities may choose not to vaccine and that HHS remains committed to supporting everyone in avoiding hospitalization and serious complications from measles. A sign pointing to measles testing is seen on February 27 in Seminole, Texas. A sign pointing to measles testing is seen on February 27 in Seminole, Are Measles Symptoms? Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that can cause "serious health complications," particularly for children who are younger than five years old, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC notes that a single dose of the MMR vaccine is about 93 percent effective, while two doses of the vaccine is about 97 percent effective at preventing measles. Children are advised to get the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second dose when they are between 4 and 6 years old. What People Are Saying U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized prevention: "The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children may get the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead, which protects against chickenpox too." Dr. Neil Maniar told Newsweek: "This is a disease we had eradicated in this country. We should all take notice of the fact that we are seeing numbers we haven't seen since the early 1990s. This is concerning, but this is solvable. We eradicated measles once, so we can do it again. But it's going to require everyone to play a role. And it's going to require folks to make sure they get vaccinated if they haven't. We have very safe very effective vaccine. There's no reason anyone should be getting measles right now." What Happens Next? Public health authorities have increased vaccination campaigns and are closely monitoring outbreaks and international travel, which has contributed to transmission. The trajectory of the outbreak will depend on vaccination uptake and rapid response to new cases. The CDC continues to issue guidance and risk assessments to inform ongoing efforts.
The Hill
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
U.S, measles cases surge to highest since disease was ‘eliminated'
The United States has broken its record for the highest number of measles cases in the country since the disease was eliminated in 2000. It comes amid falling childhood vaccination rates and a rise in anti-vaccine sentiment fueled by lingering COVID-era distrust in public health authorities and a strengthening anti-vaccine movement. Just halfway through the year, there have been at least 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation. That's the most since 1992, surpassing the previous record of 1,274 cases from all of 2019. Experts say this year's cases are likely severely undercounted because many are going unreported. There have been at least 155 hospitalizations and three confirmed deaths from measles this year, including two otherwise healthy but unvaccinated children in Texas. A third death was reported in New Mexico in an unvaccinated adult who tested positive after dying Only three measles deaths were reported between 2001 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles was officially eliminated in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program, meaning there has not been continuous transmission for more than a year at a time. But vaccinations have waned, and that status could be threatened. According to the CDC, vaccination coverage for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) among kindergarteners is below the 95 percent target — and much lower in some communities. And it's decreasing. During the 2023 to 2024 school year, just under 93 percent of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine. According to the most recent CDC data, 92 percent of measles cases in 2025 were in people who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. The agency's dashboard is updated every Wednesday, while Johns Hopkins updates every weekday. The biggest outbreak in the country has been in West Texas, predominantly centered among members of a local Mennonite community. Officials have recorded 790 cases this year statewide, though the true number is likely much higher. While that outbreak has been slowing, it has also spread to bordering states. There have been at least 27 total outbreaks – defined as three or more related cases – and at least 38 states have reported at least one case this year. Many of the nationwide clusters seem to be linked to travel, often with an unvaccinated person catching the virus abroad and then spreading it among unvaccinated community members. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official told a group of vaccine advisors in April that more than 90 percent of the cases are 'driven by transmission in close-knit, undervaccinated communities.' The 2019 outbreak was driven largely by spread among under-vaccinated Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City and Rockland County that had long been targets of the anti-vaccine movement. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans. Just one infected patient can spread measles to up to 9 out of 10 susceptible close contacts, according to the CDC.
Newsweek
06-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
US Measles Cases at an All-Time High After Disease 'Eliminated'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak since the disease was declared "eliminated" in 2000, with 1,277 confirmed cases reported as of July 5, according to Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation. This figure has already surpassed the 1,274 cases recorded during the peak year of 2019, marking a critical public health milestone reached just halfway through 2025. Why It Matters This outbreak directly challenges the nation's measles elimination status, achieved 25 years ago through sustained vaccination efforts. Measles ranks among the most contagious infectious diseases, with 92 percent of unvaccinated people contracting the virus upon exposure. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in five infected individuals requires hospitalization, making this outbreak a significant strain on health care systems across multiple states. The resurgence occurs amid declining childhood vaccination rates nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, with increasing numbers of parents claiming religious or personal conscience exemptions. Communities require vaccination rates above 95 percent to maintain "herd immunity" and prevent widespread transmission. What To Know The outbreak has resulted in at least 155 hospitalizations, affecting 431 adults and 824 children, with three confirmed deaths. Two elementary school-aged children died in West Texas, while one adult died in New Mexico—all were unvaccinated. The CDC confirmed that 1,267 cases were officially reported through their surveillance system as of Wednesday. The majority of cases stem from a large outbreak originating in West Texas, where 753 confirmed cases have been reported across 36 counties since January. Gaines County remains the epicenter, with 55 percent of Texas cases concentrated in this area after the virus spread through a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. Some critics say Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts to contain the epidemic in the tight-knit, religious West Texas community ran counter to established public health strategies used to end past epidemics. "The hyperpartisanship we're experiencing, coupled with the de-prioritization of policy expertise, is leading to profound divides in trust in agencies and health recommendations, and this trust will be difficult to rebuild, especially as we see the continued hollowing out of the public health bureaucracy," Miranda Yaver, assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh, previously told Newsweek. Confirmed measles cases have been reported by 39 states and jurisdictions, with Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas showing the highest concentrations. Active outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases, are occurring in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah. Kentucky reported its first outbreak of 2025 last month. Symptoms appear seven to 14 days after virus contact, typically including high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. The characteristic rash appears three to five days after initial symptoms, often accompanied by fever spikes exceeding 104 degrees. Koplik's spots—tiny white spots inside the mouth—may appear two to three days after symptoms begin. What People Are Saying Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed the Texas deaths: "The April 3 death was an 8-year-old child" and "a 6-year-old unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February." U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized prevention: "The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old." Dr. Mathew Kiang, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University, said in an April statement: "With measles, we found that we're already on the precipice of disaster. If vaccination rates remain the same, the model predicts that measles may become endemic within about 20 years." Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, previously told Newsweek: "[Texas Department of State Health Services] DSHS has been encouraging people to get vaccinated if they are not immune to measles because it is the best way to prevent illness and stop the virus from spreading." Miranda Yaver, an assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh, previously told Newsweek: "We now have over 1,000 confirmed measles cases in the United States, and this is avoidable with vaccination, which we know to be safe and effective. We are seeing the proliferation of vaccine hesitancy, with a pronounced partisan split, extending well beyond the COVID vaccine." A measles advisory is shown tacked to a bulletin board outside Gaines County Courthouse on April 9 in Seminole, Texas. A measles advisory is shown tacked to a bulletin board outside Gaines County Courthouse on April 9 in Seminole, Happens Next Public health authorities are intensifying vaccination campaigns and contact tracing efforts across affected states. Several states have successfully contained earlier outbreaks, including Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, after six weeks without new cases, demonstrating effective containment strategies. The outbreak's trajectory depends on vaccination uptake in affected communities and successful isolation of infectious cases. Health officials continue monitoring international travel patterns, as the CDC reported more than twice as many measles cases originated from international travel compared to the same period last year. Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
