Map shows measles cases across U.S.

Mom expresses concerns amid measles outbreak

Texas parent of twins describes efforts to support infants amid increasing measles outbreak 02:35

Just implicit 4 months into 2025, the United States has recorded the astir measles cases successful a azygous twelvemonth since a 2019 wave, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information shows. The bulk of the infections person been reported successful an outbreak successful West Texas that has led to the deaths of two children. The fig of cases successful Texas unsocial has grown to nearly 600, portion cases nationwide person deed 800, with infections confirmed successful astatine slightest 24 states.

Measles is 1 of the astir contagious infectious diseases, and successful immoderate cases tin cause severe infections in the lungs and encephalon that tin pb to cognitive issues, deafness oregon death. But doctors and wellness officials accidental the vaccine, which is usually fixed arsenic portion of the operation measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, is highly harmless and effective.

While astir people's symptoms improve, astir 1 successful 5 unvaccinated radical who get measles volition beryllium hospitalized. About 1 retired of each 1,000 children with measles volition make encephalon swelling that tin pb to encephalon damage, and up to 3 of each 1,000 children who go infected volition die, the CDC says. 

The largest outbreak truthful acold this twelvemonth has been successful West Texas, but cases person been reported successful different states astir the state arsenic well. 

The CBS News information squad is tracking confirmed measles cases nationwide arsenic caller information is released by authorities wellness departments and the CDC. (The representation beneath is updated connected Fridays erstwhile the CDC releases its latest play numbers.)

The Texas outbreak is chiefly affecting children and teenagers, astir each of whom were unvaccinated or person an chartless vaccination status. State and section wellness officials confirmed the archetypal diligent who died was an unvaccinated school-aged child, and the 2nd was an unvaccinated 8-year-old girl. Neither of the children had underlying wellness conditions, the Texas wellness section said. New Mexico besides reported the death of an adult with measles.

The past measles decease successful the U.S. earlier this twelvemonth was successful 2019, erstwhile a 37-year-old antheral died from measles analyzable by meningitis successful California, according to CDC data.

The highest fig of confirmed cases successful the U.S. successful caller years was 1,274 successful 2019, driven by outbreaks successful New York, California and Washington state, but astir years the full has been overmuch lower. 

Health experts constituent to lower vaccination rates arsenic a crushed for increases successful preventable diseases similar the measles.

CDC information shows astir 93% of kindergarteners successful the U.S. were vaccinated against measles during the 2021-2022 schoolhouse twelvemonth and lone 92.7% successful the 2023-2024 schoolhouse year. This is down from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 schoolhouse twelvemonth — a captious threshold to support radical safe. 

"When much than 95% of radical successful a assemblage are vaccinated, astir radical are protected done assemblage immunity (herd immunity)," the CDC states.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a a history of making false and misleading claims about vaccines, voiced enactment for vaccination arsenic the deadly outbreak spread successful the Southwest.

"We promote radical to get the measles vaccine," Kennedy told CBS News main aesculapian analogous Dr. Jon LaPook successful an interrogation April 8, marking the archetypal clip Kennedy has publically urged radical to get the measles vaccine since becoming HHS secretary.

Asked by LaPook what the national government's authoritative presumption connected the vaccine is, Kennedy reiterated, "The national government's position, my position, is that radical should get the measles vaccine," but added, "The authorities should not beryllium mandating those." 

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• Measles