US measles cases exceed 700 amid outbreaks in six states

The recent surge in measles cases across the United States has raised significant public health concerns, with the total surpassing 700 as of April 2025 . This increase represents more than double the number of cases reported in 2024, indicating a troubling trend that underscores the critical importance of vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributes approximately 93% of these cases to ongoing outbreaks, primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status .

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed in a televised Cabinet meeting Thursday that measles cases were plateauing nationally, but the virus continues to spread mostly in people who are unvaccinated and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention redeployed a team to West Texas.

Measles is extremely contagious and begins with fever, cough, coryza (runny nose), and conjunctivitis (pink eye), followed 2–4 days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads downward on the body. Infected people are contagious from 4 days before the rash starts through 4 days afterward. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes and can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. 

Despite facing blowback from his initial reaction to the outbreak, Kennedy has gotten some praise for saying the MMR vaccine is the “most effective way to prevent the spread” of the viral infection. 

“We are seeing at least some sign this administration understands they need to respond more appropriately,” Jason Schwartz, a vaccine researcher at the Yale School of Public Health, told The Hill. 

Currently, six states are experiencing active outbreaks, with Texas accounting for the majority of cases at 541. This outbreak has been linked to infections originating from Mexico, highlighting the interconnectedness of global health issues . Other states affected include Ohio and Arkansas, which reported its first two cases recently. Such widespread outbreaks emphasize the highly contagious nature of measles and reinforce public health officials’ calls for increased vaccination efforts to mitigate further spread .

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Sarah H

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