US measles outbreak: See the states where cases have been reported
As the measles outbreak continues to spread throughout the United States, concerns about protecting children and other high-risk groups from the disease are at the forefront of discussions. While West Texas has been the epicenter of the largest outbreak, with over 220 reported cases as of March 11, the virus has also surfaced in several other states across the country.
Alaska reported a case of measles in an unvaccinated adult who had traveled overseas in January 2025. In California, five cases of measles have been confirmed as of March 11. Georgia has seen a total of three confirmed cases in Atlanta, with the first case reported in January and two additional cases in February among family members.
In Kentucky, the Department for Public Health announced a confirmed case of measles on February 26. This was the first case in the state since February 2023, and the affected adult had recently traveled internationally to an area with ongoing measles transmission. Maryland reported one confirmed case of measles on March 9, with the individual having recently traveled internationally.
New Jersey has reported three measles cases as of March 7, with no ongoing community transmission currently. New Mexico has seen 33 cases of measles, with one death reported in an unvaccinated adult who did not seek medical help. In New York, three cases have been reported – two in New York City and one outside the city.
Oklahoma reported two cases of measles on March 11, with individuals reporting exposures associated with the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Pennsylvania confirmed one case of measles in an unvaccinated child from Montgomery County. Rhode Island reported one case in January, the first since 2013, in an unvaccinated child with recent international travel history.
Texas has been hit hard by the outbreak, with 223 cases identified since late January, primarily in Gaines County. Twenty-nine patients have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported. Vermont confirmed its first case of measles on March 11 in a school-aged child who traveled internationally. Washington reported its first case in an infant in King County on February 27.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, emphasized the high contagiousness of measles, with a 90% chance of contracting the virus if exposed to an infected individual in a closed space. He pointed to high exemption rates for childhood vaccines as a contributing factor to the current outbreak, urging the importance of vaccination.
The majority of cases in the outbreak have occurred in unvaccinated individuals, particularly school-aged children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and various experts recommend the two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the best prevention method against measles. Stay tuned for updates on the measles outbreak as the situation evolves.
