Measles cases linked to Texas outbreak surpass 2024 total in US

The number of measles cases linked to the western Texas outbreak has climbed to 309, according to the new released on Friday. 30 fresh cases were reported in the last three days, raising concerns. With this, the total number of measles cases linked to the Texas outbreak in roughly two months has surpassed last year's numbers in the US, which was 285, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), forty of the patients have been hospitalized. One fatality has been recorded in a ‘school-aged’ child. “The child was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions,” DSHS confirmed. It was the first U.S. measles death recorded in a decade, as per the CDC.

The officials also hinted that due to the highly contagious nature of the disease, more cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities. They are working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.
The outbreak's epicenter, Gaines County has the highest number of cases, 211, as of Friday, Mar. 21.
Measles cases on the rise in the US in 2025

The has confirmed that the total number of measles cases in 2025 in the US has reached 378, as of March 20, 2025. These cases were reported by 18 jurisdictions - Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.
17% of the people required hospitalization, which is 64 out of 378. The health agency also confirmed that most cases of hospital admission were required in children under the age of 5. 34 children were hospitalized. Also, this year, measles has largely affected people between the ages of 5 to 19 (42%) followed by children younger than 5 (33%). 95% of the cases are reported in people who are unvaccinated (and vaccination status unknown).
Just two cases have occurred in people fully vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. CDC has confirmed two deaths in the US, linked to measles this year, with one confirmed and one under investigation.

The death was the first U.S. measles death recorded in a decade, according to data from the CDC.


Measles is an airborne, extremely infectious, and potentially severe rash illness. The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.