“It was a heartbreaking day,” US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, as he met the family of the second unvaccinated child, who died of measles.
The United States is grappling with an alarming resurgence of measles, one of the most contagious diseases known to humanity. As of Apr. 7, the measles cases in the US has climbed to 642, a dramatic increase that has already surpassed the total number of cases recorded in all of 2024. Of the confirmed cases, 499 of those are in Texas, the epicenter of the outbreak. Two deaths have been confirmed, both in school-aged kids, which further elevates the severity of the outbreak.
Kennedy met the family of the deceased children and said, “My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief.” The HHS Secretary also underlined the importance of vaccination and added, “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”
According to the CDC, measles cases have been reported in 22 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.
With the measles cases on the rise, it is important to know more about the disease, symptoms, and preventive measures.
What is measles?
Measles is highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus, a member of the paramyxovirus family. It spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and can remain in the air for up to two hours after they leave a space.
Video
What are the symptoms of measles?
The symptoms of measles appear in 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The common symptoms include:
Measles also leads to severe complications in children and those with compromised immune system. The complications include:
The current measles outbreak in the US began in late January 2025 in Gaines County, Texas, a rural area in the South Plains region which had notably low vaccination rates. According to the CDC, 97% of the measles cases in 2025, were in unvaccinated (and vaccination status unknown) individuals. Both CDC, and WHO notes that the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine. “The vaccine is safe, effective, and inexpensive,” the WHO assures.
The United States is grappling with an alarming resurgence of measles, one of the most contagious diseases known to humanity. As of Apr. 7, the measles cases in the US has climbed to 642, a dramatic increase that has already surpassed the total number of cases recorded in all of 2024. Of the confirmed cases, 499 of those are in Texas, the epicenter of the outbreak. Two deaths have been confirmed, both in school-aged kids, which further elevates the severity of the outbreak.
Kennedy met the family of the deceased children and said, “My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief.” The HHS Secretary also underlined the importance of vaccination and added, “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”
According to the CDC, measles cases have been reported in 22 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.
With the measles cases on the rise, it is important to know more about the disease, symptoms, and preventive measures.
What is measles?
Measles is highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus, a member of the paramyxovirus family. It spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and can remain in the air for up to two hours after they leave a space.
Video
What are the symptoms of measles?
The symptoms of measles appear in 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The common symptoms include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
- Cough
- Runny nose (coryza)
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Rash (Koplik spots appear as small raised bumps on top of flat red spots)
Measles also leads to severe complications in children and those with compromised immune system. The complications include:
- Ear infections
- Diarrhea
- Pneumonia
- Death
- Complications may arise in pregnant women who have not taken the MMR vaccine according to the CDC.
The current measles outbreak in the US began in late January 2025 in Gaines County, Texas, a rural area in the South Plains region which had notably low vaccination rates. According to the CDC, 97% of the measles cases in 2025, were in unvaccinated (and vaccination status unknown) individuals. Both CDC, and WHO notes that the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine. “The vaccine is safe, effective, and inexpensive,” the WHO assures.
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