Everything to know about US measles outbreak as 2025 cases so far surpass numbers for whole of 2024
The US is battling a rise in measles cases, as the number of confirmed infections so far in 2025 has well exceeded last year's recordings.
In 2000, the US declared itself as measles-free, but the illness has since had a resurgence in parts of the country, Texas in particular.
The CDC reports that measles is spread by unvaccinated vacationers who pick up the illness abroad and bring it back, spreading it among unvaccinated communities - although you can still contract measles if you're fully vaccinated, but this is extremely rare.
Parents are advised that all children should receive two doses of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, starting with the first dose at between 12 and 15 months of age.
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The second dose can be give between the ages of four years and six-years-old.
The last recorded measles death in the US was in 2015.
However, an unvaccinated child in Texas become the first in 10 years to die from the virus last month. A second Texas child also died earlier in April, while a third death in New Mexico is currently under investigation.
What is the measles?
Measles is a highly contagious virus, which spreads via coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include a red rash, as well as a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
The virus can cause complications, particularly in those under the age of five, including ear infections or diarrhea.
In more serious cases, it can cause pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Where has reported measles cases in the US?
Figures from the CDC show that as of April 10, 2025, a total of 712 confirmed measles cases were reported by 25 jurisdictions across the US.
These include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky.
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio and Oklahoma have also recorded cases, as have Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
Who has been affected by the measles?
Of the 712 reported measles cases, 97 percent - that's 690 people - are unvaccinated, or their vaccine status is unknown.
One percent had received one MMR dose and two percent had received both doses.
The CDC reports that 79 measles patients have been hospitalized, with 45 of those (20 percent) being under the age of five.
20 (seven percent) are between the ages of five and 19, while 12 (six percent) are aged 20 and older. Two peoples' ages are unaccounted for.
So far this year, two people have confirmed to have died from measles, while one other death is currently under investigation.
One Texas child, who was unvaccinated, died in March, while a second measles death was recorded, also in Texas, in the state's South Plains region.
An unvaccinated 'school-aged child', who tested positive for measles was hospitalized in Lubbock and passed in early April from what the child’s doctors described as 'measles pulmonary failure', the CDC reported.
Another death in Lea County, New Mexico is being investigated, as the patient tested positive for measles after their death, as per NM Health.
How does this compare to 2024?
In 2024, a total of 285 cases were reported across the US, the CDC reports.
That means the amount of cases have increased by almost 2.5-fold from last year already - and we're only four months into 2025.
Last year, 40 percent of cases - so 114 people - were hospitalized for measles and the majority of those - 52 percent (or 62 people) were under five years old.
There were no recorded measles deaths last year.
What to do if you have measles
If you believe you have measles, or if you've been in contact with someone who has it, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor immediately.
You should isolate yourself to prevent the spread of the virus for four days after the rash appears, which is when you are most contagious.
Ellie Kemp