A record-breaking number of measles cases have been reported in the United States, with Texas accounting for over 700 cases since January. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 1,024 cases across 30 states so far this year, surpassing the total of 285 cases reported in 2024.
The outbreak is attributed to low vaccination rates, particularly among kindergarten students in Texas. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 5.64% of kindergarten students were not vaccinated for measles, while 2.34% of seventh graders had not received the vaccine.
Symptoms of measles include a fever, rash, cough, fatigue, runny nose, and red eyes, which typically appear 10-14 days after exposure to the virus. The disease is highly contagious, spreading from one person to nine out of ten people close to them.
To prevent the spread of measles, experts recommend getting vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, which is about 97% effective at preventing the disease. The CDC also warns that people infected with measles should isolate for four days after developing a rash, and that there is no role for vitamin A in treating measles.
The situation has sparked concerns among health experts, who caution against solely relying on vitamin A instead of the MMR vaccine. Instead, they advocate for widespread vaccination efforts to protect vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women.
As Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, notes: “Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/05/20/measles-updates-texas-cases-pass-700-as-illness-reported-in-30-states