Measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico have public health officials worried. This viral infection is highly contagious and can have serious outcomes, especially in young children. They may develop ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia or diarrhea. About 1 in 1,000 develops encephalitis, which can result in lasting brain damage.
Texas officials report that this outbreak is the largest they have seen in about 30 years, with 58 people reported infected as of February 18, 2025. Most of the cases affected children who had not been vaccinated. In New Mexico, six of the eight cases were unvaccinated. The other two think they may have been vaccinated.
In addition to the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, the CDC reports that five other states have also reported measles cases so far this year. Pediatricians fear that many more people have already contracted measles but have not been tested. One person with measles can easily spread the virus to 9 out of 10 other unvaccinated people.
A Recent History of Measles:
Several years ago, a measles epidemic left more than 700 people sick in the U.S. Young children were hardest hit in outbreaks across the country, from New York State’s Rockland County to California’s Los Angeles County. Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia and Maryland also saw large numbers of cases. In fact, in 2019 the US had more cases of measles than it had experienced in 20 years. Unfortunately, 2019 was not the end of measles outbreaks. Measles outbreaks are becoming a worldwide problem, and epidemiologists expect more.
A Resurgence of Measles Around the Globe:
The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases met in Barcelona, Spain in 2024. At those meetings investigators revealed that global measles cases have almost doubled, from 170,000 cases in 2022 to over 320,000 cases in 2023. Health officials counted actual cases to reach those numbers, but they estimate that the true incidence is in the millions. People with cases that are not severe may not seek health care and thus may not get counted.
Vaccination rates have been falling in many countries, including the US. Measles is not a benign infection. Young children may develop pneumonia, brain swelling and severe diarrhea. An infection can kill undernourished children.
The History of Measles in the US:
Most pediatricians thought that we had gotten measles under control. Childhood vaccinations had virtually eliminated this highly contagious viral infection. But vaccination reluctance may be contributing to a resurgence around the country.
The CDC reported 285 measles cases in 2024, which is more than throughout all of 2023. At least 33 jurisdictions reported outbreaks, including Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and New Jersey.
Other parts of the world also experienced large measles outbreaks. Europe and western Asia were especially hard hit. Measles causes much more than fever and rash. When children are vulnerable, this viral infection can make them very sick. Occasionally, it is lethal.
Where in the World Are Measles Outbreaks Occurring?
In 2019, Brazil, India, Madagascar, the Philippines, Ukraine and Venezuela. Israel, France, Greece and Georgia had measles outbreaks. That means international travelers probably contribute to the virus spreading around the world. As a result, the CDC is encouraging Americans traveling overseas to bring their vaccinations up to date before they leave.
What Are the Symptoms of Measles?
Measles, also called rubeola, is caused by a virus that is highly contagious. It spreads through droplets from sneezes or coughs. Within ten days to two weeks of exposure, the patient notices a high fever, sore throat, runny nose, red, watery eyes, dry cough, headache and muscle pain. So far, it sounds a lot like the flu or a flu-like illness. However, two to three days later tiny white spots develop on reddened areas of the inner cheek. Doctors call them Koplik spots. In addition, there is the measles rash. It often starts on the chest, back and face, but the red spots frequently spread to other parts of the body.
Measles Complications:
Measles can be a serious infection at any age, but very young children may be especially susceptible to complications. In such youngsters, ear infections associated with measles can lead to permanent hearing impairment. The infection can also cause diarrhea in just under 10 percent of people who catch the virus. Some children (up to 5 percent) with measles come down with pneumonia as a consequence. Even more alarming, one child in 1,000 will develop swelling of the brain in reaction to the infection or the high fever. This can trigger seizures. Worst of all, measles can kill kids. About one or two children in every thousand with the infection die as a result.
What Is the Future of Measles?
In 2000 some public health experts declared the US to be free of measles. However, if current measles outbreaks continue, it is likely that we will face more epidemics in the future.
