Measles Cases Surge Across U.S., with Texas Outbreak at the Center

As of Friday, the United States has reported 800 confirmed measles cases — more than double the total from all of 2024. The growing outbreak has now reached multiple states, with two new states confirming clusters this week.

At the heart of the surge is Texas, where an outbreak that began nearly three months ago in West Texas has now grown to 597 cases. Tragically, two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children have died in the area, along with one unvaccinated adult in New Mexico, highlighting the potentially deadly consequences of the virus.

Other states with active outbreaks — defined as three or more confirmed cases — include:

  • Indiana

  • Kansas

  • Michigan

  • Oklahoma

  • Ohio

  • Pennsylvania

  • New Mexico

Health officials are growing increasingly concerned that the virus could spread even further, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. Some experts warn that without rapid containment, the outbreak could continue into next year.

A Preventable but Dangerous Disease

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus, spreading through coughs, sneezes, and even the breath of an infected person. While the disease was considered eliminated in the U.S. since 2000 thanks to widespread vaccination, declining immunization rates in recent years have allowed it to resurface.

The virus is preventable through the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), which is typically given in childhood in two doses. Yet, many of the recent U.S. cases have occurred in people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.

Regional Spread in North America

The U.S. outbreak is part of a broader regional trend. In Ontario, Canada, a measles outbreak has sickened 925 people between mid-October and April 16. In Mexico, the World Health Organization has linked several cases to the Texas outbreak. The state of Chihuahua alone has reported 433 confirmed cases as of April 18.