Measles is spreading across the US – here is what you need to know

The US has confirmed more than 480 measles cases across 19 states, the highest total since an outbreak in 2019 sickened more than 1200 people

By Grace Wade

28 March 2025

A common symptom of measles includes a rash

Aleksandr Finch/Shutterstock

The US is currently facing its most severe measles resurgence in years. On 26 March, Ohio became the fifth state to declare a measles outbreak this year, joining Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas.

How many measles cases are there in the US?

As of 27 March, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 483 measles cases in the US this year. This is the highest number of infections since 2019, when there were more than 1200 confirmed cases. The CDC is aware of more potential measles cases but is waiting for confirmation before including them in the case count.

Which states are affected by measles?

So far, 19 states have confirmed at least one measles case this year: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington. Fourteen of these states have reported only isolated incidences, meaning the infection didn’t spread to more than one other person.

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However, five states declared a measles outbreak, defined as at least three related measles cases. As of 28 March, confirmed measles cases totalled 400 in Texas and 44 in New Mexico. There were seven cases in Oklahoma as of 25 March. Kansas and Ohio have confirmed 23 and 10 measles cases, respectively, as of 26 March.

Has anyone been hospitalised or died?

The CDC reports that 70 people have been hospitalised for measles so far this year. One unvaccinated child also died from the virus on 26 February in Texas – the country’s first recorded measles death in a decade. A second possible measles-related death is under investigation in New Mexico.

When did the outbreak start?

Texas was the first state to declare a measles outbreak. The Texas Department of State Health Services issued an alert on 23 January after identifying measles in two unvaccinated adults who lived together in Houston and had recently travelled abroad. A week later, the state confirmed an additional two cases in unvaccinated children on the other side of the state in Gaines county. It isn’t clear if these two incidents were related.