United States Sees Over 300 Measles Cases in 2025
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Synopsis
As of March 15, 2025, the US has recorded 301 confirmed measles cases, with significant outbreaks in Texas. The CDC urges vaccination as the primary prevention method amidst rising concerns over measles' contagious nature.
Key Takeaways
- 301 confirmed measles cases in the US in 2025.
- Texas reports the highest number of cases.
- 50 hospitalisations and 2 deaths recorded.
- Measles is highly contagious and preventable by vaccination.
- Europe's measles cases doubled from 2023 to 2024.
New York, March 15 (NationPress) The United States has documented a total of 301 confirmed cases of measles this year, as per the latest statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These cases have emerged from 15 jurisdictions across the US. Among the confirmed cases, 50 individuals have been hospitalised, and there have been two fatalities, according to a report from Xinhua news agency.
Texas has experienced a surge in measles cases since January, with 259 confirmed cases reported as of Friday. Out of these, 34 patients have required hospitalisation.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has cautioned that, due to the highly contagious nature of measles, further cases are anticipated in both the outbreak areas and surrounding communities.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that spreads over the body. In severe cases, complications can arise, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death.
The CDC stresses that the most effective way to prevent measles is through vaccination.
Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are proven to be highly effective in preventing the disease. In contrast, Europe reported 127,350 measles cases in 2024, which is double the number from 2023 and the most since 1997.
The European region accounted for a third of all global measles cases in 2024. Children under 5 represented over 40 percent of reported cases in this region, which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, according to an analysis by WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
More than half of the reported cases required hospitalisation, with a total of 38 deaths recorded based on preliminary data as of March 6, 2025.
Measles cases in this region had generally been declining since 1997, when approximately 216,000 cases were reported, reaching a low of 4,440 cases in 2016. However, a resurgence occurred in 2018 and 2019, with 89,000 and 106,000 cases reported in those two years, respectively.
After a decline in immunisation coverage during the Covid-19 pandemic, cases surged significantly again in 2023 and 2024, the analysis indicated.
