Measles outbreak is growing. Are there cases in your state? See maps
We're just three months into the year, and the number of measles cases in the United States has surpassed infections for all of 2024.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 378 people in 18 states have been diagnosed with measles. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas and neighboring Lea County, New Mexico, according to the CDC.
In 95% of the cases, the vaccination status is "unvaccinated or unknown." The measles virus, which is highly contagious and primarily affects children, continues to spread in Texas and several other states across the country.
Measles cases grow in the US
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States reporting measles cases
Measles was declared eradicated in the USA in 2000, but recent sporadic outbreaks have been linked to international travelers and numerous unvaccinated people, based on CDC reports.
States reporting measles cases: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
Is measles highly contagious?
Yes. Measles is considered one of the most contagious diseases. It can linger in the air, infecting non-immune people even two hours after an infected person leaves the room. How the measles virus compares with other infectious diseases:
In the U.S., about one in five unvaccinated people who contract measles are hospitalized. As many as three of every 1,000 children infected with the disease die, according to the CDC.
How symptoms of measles compare in children and adults
According to the CDC, measles symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. Measles rash appears three to five days after the first symptoms.
SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health departments, Mayo Clinic and Paste BN research
CONTRIBUTING Eduardo Cuevas
This story was updated to add new information.