By DEVI SHASTRI, AP Well being Author
North Dakota is the eleventh state within the U.S. with a measles outbreak, logging its first circumstances since 2011.
A toddler who has measles is proven with a rash throughout their physique. Measles may be prevented with a vaccine, however there isn’t any remedy as soon as somebody is contaminated. (Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention — Contributed)
The U.S. has 935 confirmed measles circumstances this 12 months. That’s triple the quantity seen in all of 2024. Two youngsters and an grownup have died from measles-related sicknesses this 12 months. Ten different states have lively outbreaks: Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. Measles is attributable to a extremely contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads simply when an contaminated particular person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It’s prevented by vaccines. Instances even have been reported in 19 states.
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The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s confirmed measles case depend is 935, greater than triple the quantity seen in all of 2024. The three-month outbreak in Texas accounts for the overwhelming majority of circumstances, with 702 confirmed as of Tuesday. The outbreak has additionally unfold to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged youngsters died from measles-related sicknesses within the epicenter in West Texas, and an grownup in New Mexico who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related sickness.
Different states with lively outbreaks — which the CDC defines as three or extra associated circumstances — embrace Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
North America has two different ongoing outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 1,243 circumstances from mid-October via April 29. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 922 measles circumstances and one loss of life as of Tuesday, in line with information from the state well being ministry. Well being officers in Mexico and the U.S. say all three outbreaks are of the identical measles pressure.
Measles is attributable to a extremely contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads simply when an contaminated particular person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It’s preventable via vaccines, and has been thought of eradicated from the U.S. since 2000.
Because the virus takes maintain in U.S. communities with low vaccination charges, well being consultants concern that unfold may stretch on for a 12 months. Right here’s what else you should find out about measles within the U.S.
What number of measles circumstances are there in Texas and New Mexico?
Texas state well being officers mentioned Tuesday there have been 19 new circumstances of measles since Friday, bringing the full to 702 throughout 29 counties — most of them in West Texas. The state additionally added two hospitalizations to its depend Friday, for a complete of 91 all through the outbreak.
State well being officers estimated about 1% of circumstances — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.
Fifty-seven p.c of Texas’ circumstances are in Gaines County, inhabitants 22,892, the place the virus began spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite neighborhood. The county has had 403 circumstances since late January — simply over 1.7% of the county’s residents.
The April 3 loss of life in Texas was an 8-year-old little one, in line with Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Native well being officers in Texas mentioned the kid didn’t have underlying well being situations and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated little one with no underlying situations died of measles in Texas in late February — Kennedy mentioned age 6.
New Mexico was regular Tuesday with 67 complete circumstances. Seven individuals have been hospitalized for the reason that outbreak began. Many of the state’s circumstances are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County, two in Doña Ana County and one in Chaves County.
What number of circumstances are there in Indiana?
Indiana confirmed two extra circumstances April 21 in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County within the northeast a part of the state — 5 are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination standing is unknown.
The circumstances haven’t any identified hyperlink to different outbreaks, the Allen County Division of Well being has mentioned.
What number of circumstances are there in Kansas?
Kansas added two circumstances Wednesday for a complete of 48 throughout eight counties within the southwestern a part of the state. The state has had one hospitalization.
The state’s first reported case was linked to the Texas outbreak based mostly on genetic testing.
What number of circumstances are there in Michigan?
Montcalm County, close to Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has an outbreak of 4 circumstances that state well being officers say is tied to the Ontario outbreak. The state had 9 confirmed measles circumstances as of Friday, however the remaining 5 aren’t a part of the Montcalm County outbreak.
What number of circumstances are there in Montana?
Montana state well being officers introduced 5 circumstances April 17 in unvaccinated youngsters and adults who had traveled out of state, and later confirmed it was an outbreak. All 5 are isolating at dwelling in Gallatin County within the southwest a part of the state.
They had been Montana’s first measles circumstances in 35 years. Well being officers didn’t say whether or not the circumstances are linked to different outbreaks in North America.
What number of measles circumstances are there in North Dakota?
On this handout from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), the pores and skin of a affected person after three days of measles an infection is seen at a New York hospital in 1958. (Photograph by CDC by way of Getty Pictures) CDC by way of Getty Pictures
North Dakota introduced its first measles case since 2011 on Friday, and by Tuesday, there have been 9 circumstances.
All are in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. The state well being division mentioned Monday that three of the confirmed circumstances are linked to the primary case — an unvaccinated little one who well being officers imagine received it from an out-of-state customer.
The opposite 5 circumstances, introduced Tuesday, had been individuals who weren’t vaccinated and didn’t have contact with the opposite circumstances, inflicting concern about neighborhood transmission. The state well being division mentioned 4 individuals identified with measles attended courses whereas infectious at a Williston elementary college, center college and highschool.
What number of circumstances are there in Ohio?
The state has two outbreaks. Ashtabula County close to Cleveland has 16 circumstances. And Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 amongst Ohio residents and the remainder amongst guests.
The Ohio Division of Well being on Thursday confirmed 33 measles circumstances and one hospitalization. That depend contains solely Ohio residents. Defiance County within the northwestern a part of the state has logged its first case.
Allen and Holmes counties have had one case every.
What number of circumstances are there in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma added one case for a complete of 14 confirmed and three possible circumstances as of Tuesday. The outbreak is linked to Texas and New Mexico.
The state well being division will not be releasing which counties have circumstances, however Cleveland, Oklahoma and Sequoyah counties have had public exposures up to now couple of months.
What number of circumstances are there in Pennsylvania?
There are eight measles circumstances in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officers mentioned Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state has mentioned it has 13 circumstances total in 2025, together with worldwide travel-related circumstances in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia.
What number of circumstances are there in Tennessee?
Tennessee had six measles circumstances as of final week. Well being division spokesman Invoice Christian mentioned all circumstances are the center a part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” however declined to specify additional. The state additionally didn’t say whether or not the circumstances had been linked to different outbreaks or when Tennessee’s outbreak began.
The place else is measles exhibiting up within the U.S.?
Instances even have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Instances and outbreaks within the U.S. are often traced to somebody who caught the illness overseas. In 2019, the U.S. noticed 1,274 circumstances and virtually misplaced its standing of getting eradicated measles.
What do you should know concerning the MMR vaccine?
The easiest way to keep away from measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The primary shot is really helpful for kids between 12 and 15 months outdated and the second between 4 and 6 years outdated.
Getting one other MMR shot is innocent if there are considerations about waning immunity, the CDC says. Individuals who have documentation of receiving a reside measles vaccine within the Nineteen Sixties don’t must be revaccinated, however individuals who had been immunized earlier than 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine comprised of “killed” virus must be revaccinated with at the very least one dose, the company mentioned.
Individuals who have documentation that they’d measles are immune and people born earlier than 1957 usually don’t want the pictures as a result of most kids again then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”
In communities with excessive vaccination charges — above 95% — illnesses like measles have a more durable time spreading via communities. That is referred to as “herd immunity.”
However childhood vaccination charges have declined nationwide for the reason that pandemic and extra dad and mom are claiming spiritual or private conscience waivers to exempt their youngsters from required pictures. The U.S. noticed an increase in measles circumstances in 2024, together with an outbreak in Chicago that sickened greater than 60.
What are the signs of measles?
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads all through the physique, inflicting a excessive fever, runny nostril, cough, crimson, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash usually seems three to 5 days after the primary signs, starting as flat crimson spots on the face after which spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and ft. When the rash seems, the fever might spike over 104 levels Fahrenheit, in line with the CDC.
Most children will recuperate from measles, however an infection can result in harmful issues akin to pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and loss of life.
How will you deal with measles?
There’s no particular therapy for measles, so docs usually attempt to alleviate signs, stop issues and maintain sufferers comfy.
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AP Science Author Laura Ungar contributed to this report.
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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.
Initially Revealed: Could 7, 2025 at 11:41 AM PDT
