US measles cases surpass 700 with outbreaks in six states

[june04]

As of Friday, measles cases across the United States surpassed 700, marking a concerning rise as the virus continues to spread, particularly among unvaccinated populations. This surge came during a week when Indiana joined five other states battling active outbreaks, Texas added 60 more cases, and the country recorded its third measles-related death.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday that the nationwide outbreak seemed to be leveling off. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) redeployed a team to West Texas, highlighting the ongoing risk, especially for those who remain unvaccinated. The country has now reported more than twice as many measles cases as it did throughout all of 2024, with Texas bearing the brunt, tallying 541 cases.

Among Texas' reported cases were two elementary school-aged children who were unvaccinated and died from measles-related complications near the epicenter in rural West Texas. These tragedies prompted Kennedy to visit the affected community. The third fatality was an adult in New Mexico who also had not been vaccinated. Alongside Texas and New Mexico, other states with active outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

Health experts have long warned that low vaccination rates in certain communities could lead to widespread outbreaks, potentially lasting for an extended period. The World Health Organization has also noted that cases in Mexico are genetically linked to the Texas outbreak.

Measles is an extremely contagious airborne virus that spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Despite being preventable through vaccination, the disease has made a worrying comeback even though it was officially declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.

In Texas, the outbreak began in January and has spread to 22 counties, with the majority of cases clustered in Gaines County, where an undervaccinated Mennonite community accounts for about 355 cases. As of Friday, state health officials reported 56 hospitalizations and noted that 5% of the cases remain actively infectious. Tragically, the most recent death involved an 8-year-old child who reportedly had no underlying health conditions.

New Mexico's outbreak is closely linked to Texas. The state has confirmed 58 cases so far, with most concentrated in Lea County. Two people have been hospitalized, and the first measles-related death in New Mexico, an adult, was reported in March.

Kansas has recorded 32 cases spread across eight counties, including major population hubs like Finney and Ford counties. Haskell County, however, reported the highest count with eight cases. The outbreak traces back to the Texas and New Mexico clusters through genetic testing.

Oklahoma has confirmed a total of 12 measles cases, including three that are classified as probable. State health officials confirmed exposures in Tulsa and Rogers counties, although specific case locations were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Ohio has confirmed 20 cases. The majority are in Ashtabula and Knox counties, though Ohio’s health department clarified that some of the Knox County cases involve people who do not reside in the state. Ohio’s outbreaks are also connected to international travel, as seen with the initial Ashtabula County case, which involved an unvaccinated adult exposed to an international traveler.

Lastly, Indiana has reported six confirmed measles cases in Allen County, located in the northeastern part of the state. Among these cases, four are unvaccinated children, while the two adults involved have an unknown vaccination status.

This multistate outbreak underscores the ongoing risk posed by measles in areas where vaccination rates are insufficient and demonstrates how quickly the virus can resurface despite prior elimination.