Measles Outbreak That Started In Texas Continues To Grow
3 weeks ago
Measles, one of the world's most contagious illnesses, was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, several decades after the introduction of a highly effective vaccine.
But a decline in vaccination among U.S. children in recent years, fueled by unscientific claims that the shots are unsafe, has triggered larger outbreaks, including one that has been spreading in Texas and New Mexico this year.
There have been more U.S. measles cases in the first months of 2025 than in all of 2024. In addition to the outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico in which 370 people have been infected and two unvaccinated people have died, at least 16 other U.S. states have reported cases.
In Europe, 127,350 cases were reported in 2024, double the number in 2023 and the highest in 25 years, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the United Nations children's organization.
In the decade before a vaccine became available in 1963, there were 3 to 4 million U.S. measles cases each year – mostly in children - with 48,000 hospitalizations and 400 to 500 deaths.
Complications from measles include ear infections, hearing loss, pneumonia, croup, diarrhea, blindness and swelling of the brain. Even in healthy children, measles can cause serious illness and death. In unvaccinated pregnant women, measles may cause premature birth or a low-birthweight baby.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles will need hospitalization.
But a decline in vaccination among U.S. children in recent years, fueled by unscientific claims that the shots are unsafe, has triggered larger outbreaks, including one that has been spreading in Texas and New Mexico this year.
There have been more U.S. measles cases in the first months of 2025 than in all of 2024. In addition to the outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico in which 370 people have been infected and two unvaccinated people have died, at least 16 other U.S. states have reported cases.
In Europe, 127,350 cases were reported in 2024, double the number in 2023 and the highest in 25 years, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the United Nations children's organization.
In the decade before a vaccine became available in 1963, there were 3 to 4 million U.S. measles cases each year – mostly in children - with 48,000 hospitalizations and 400 to 500 deaths.
Complications from measles include ear infections, hearing loss, pneumonia, croup, diarrhea, blindness and swelling of the brain. Even in healthy children, measles can cause serious illness and death. In unvaccinated pregnant women, measles may cause premature birth or a low-birthweight baby.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles will need hospitalization.
