Michigan and Pennsylvania be part of six different states with measles outbreaks. Here is what to know

Michigan officers confirmed a brand new measles outbreak Thursday close to Grand Rapids, bringing the U.S. to eight states with energetic outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable illness. Earlier this week, Pennsylvania declared an outbreak in Erie County as effectively.

Final week, U.S. measles circumstances topped 700, with Texas reporting the vast majority of them. Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged youngsters died from measles-related diseases close to the epicenter of the outbreak in rural West Texas. An grownup in New Mexico who was not vaccinated additionally died of a measles-related sickness.

Even because the virus continued to unfold and the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention redeployed a staff to West Texas, Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed in a televised Cupboard assembly April 10 that measles circumstances have been plateauing nationally. The U.S. has greater than double the variety of measles circumstances it noticed in all of 2024.

States with energetic outbreaks—outlined as three or extra circumstances—embody Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and New Mexico.

The multistate outbreak throughout Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas confirms well being consultants’ fears that the virus will take maintain in different U.S. communities with low vaccination charges and that the unfold might stretch on for a 12 months. The World Well being Group has mentioned circumstances in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.

Measles is attributable to a extremely contagious virus that is airborne and spreads simply when an contaminated individual breathes, sneezes or coughs. It’s preventable by means of vaccines, and has been thought-about eradicated from the U.S. since 2000.

Here is what else you must find out about measles within the U.S.

What number of measles circumstances are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas’ outbreak started in late January. State well being officers mentioned Tuesday there have been 20 new circumstances of measles since Friday, bringing the full to 561 throughout 23 counties—most of them in West Texas. Two extra Texans have been hospitalized, for a complete of 58 all through the outbreak, and Reeves County logged its first case.

State well being officers estimated Tuesday that about 4% of circumstances—fewer than 25—are actively infectious.

Sixty-five % of Texas’ circumstances are in Gaines County, inhabitants 22,892, the place the virus began spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite group. The county has logged 364 circumstances since late January—simply over 1% of the county’s residents.

The April 3 dying in Texas was an 8-year-old youngster, in response to Kennedy. Well being officers in Texas mentioned the kid didn’t have underlying well being circumstances and died of “what the kid’s physician described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated youngster with no underlying circumstances died of measles in Texas in late February—Kennedy mentioned age 6.

New Mexico introduced 5 new circumstances Tuesday, bringing the state’s complete to 63. Three extra individuals are within the hospital, for a complete of 5 for the reason that outbreak began. Doña Ana County reported its first case. Many of the state’s circumstances are in Lea County. Two are in Eddy County and one in Chaves County.

State well being officers say the circumstances are linked to Texas’ outbreak based mostly on genetic testing. New Mexico reported its first measles-related dying in an grownup on March 6.

What number of circumstances are there in Kansas?

Kansas has 37 circumstances in eight counties within the southwest a part of the state, well being officers introduced Wednesday.

Finney, Ford, Grant, Grey and Morton counties have fewer than 5 circumstances every. Haskell County has essentially the most with eight circumstances, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.

The state’s first reported case, recognized in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based mostly on genetic testing, a state well being division spokesperson mentioned. However well being officers haven’t decided how the individual was uncovered.

What number of circumstances are there in Oklahoma?

Circumstances in Oklahoma remained regular at 12 complete circumstances Tuesday: 9 confirmed and three possible. The primary two possible circumstances have been “related” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state well being division mentioned.

A state well being division spokesperson mentioned measles exposures have been confirmed in Oklahoma Metropolis and Tulsa, Rogers and Custer counties, however would not say which counties had circumstances.

What number of circumstances are there in Ohio?

The Knox County outbreak in east-central Ohio has contaminated a complete 20 folks as of Tuesday, in response to a information launch from the county well being division, however seven of them don’t reside in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.

The Ohio Division of Well being confirmed 22 measles circumstances within the state Thursday. Two counties within the southeast nook of the state logged their first circumstances of the 12 months: Montgomery and Butler. There are additionally 11 circumstances in Ashtabula County close to Cleveland, seven in Knox County and one every in Allen and Holmes counties. The state rely solely consists of Ohio residents.

The outbreak in Ashtabula County began with an unvaccinated grownup who had interacted with somebody who had traveled internationally.

What number of circumstances are there in Indiana?

Indiana confirmed six linked circumstances of measles in Allen County within the northeast a part of the state—4 are unvaccinated minors and two are adults whose vaccination standing is unknown.

The circumstances haven’t any recognized hyperlink to different outbreaks, the Allen County Division of Well being mentioned April 9.

What number of circumstances are there in Pennsylvania?

In far northwest Pennsylvania, Erie County well being officers declared a measles outbreak Monday after discovering two new circumstances linked to a measles case confirmed March 30.

The state has had 9 circumstances total this 12 months, six of which aren’t linked to the outbreak, together with worldwide travel-related circumstances in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia.

What number of circumstances are there in Michigan?

Montcalm County, close to Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has three linked measles circumstances. State well being officers say the circumstances are tied to a big measles outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

The state has seven confirmed measles circumstances as of Thursday, however the remaining 4 should not a part of the Montcalm County outbreak. Michigan’s final measles outbreak was in 2019.

The place else is measles displaying up within the U.S.?

Measles circumstances even have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or extra associated circumstances. The company counted seven clusters that certified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.

Within the U.S., circumstances and outbreaks are often traced to somebody who caught the illness overseas. It will possibly then unfold, particularly in communities with low vaccination charges. In 2019, the U.S. noticed 1,274 circumstances and nearly misplaced its standing of getting eradicated measles. To date in 2025, the CDC’s rely is 712.

Do you want an MMR booster?

The easiest way to keep away from measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The primary shot is advisable for kids between 12 and 15 months outdated and the second between 4 and 6 years outdated.

Folks at excessive danger for an infection who obtained the photographs a few years in the past might need to take into account getting a booster in the event that they reside in an space with an outbreak, mentioned Scott Weaver with the World Virus Community, a world coalition. These might embody members of the family dwelling with somebody who has measles or these particularly weak to respiratory illnesses due to underlying medical circumstances.

Adults with “presumptive proof of immunity” typically do not want measles photographs now, the CDC mentioned. Standards embody written documentation of satisfactory vaccination earlier in life, lab affirmation of previous an infection or being born earlier than 1957, when most individuals have been prone to be contaminated naturally.

A health care provider can order a lab check known as an MMR titer to examine your ranges of measles antibodies, however consultants do not at all times suggest it and medical insurance plans might not cowl it.

Getting one other MMR shot is innocent if there are issues about waning immunity, the CDC says.

Individuals who have documentation of receiving a reside measles vaccine within the Sixties do not should be revaccinated, however individuals who have been immunized earlier than 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine created from “killed” virus needs to be revaccinated with not less than one dose, the company mentioned. That additionally consists of individuals who do not know which kind they obtained.

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, pink, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash typically seems three to 5 days after the primary signs, starting as flat pink 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 response to the CDC.

Most children will get better from measles, however an infection can result in harmful issues similar to pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and dying.

How will you deal with measles?

There is no particular remedy for measles, so medical doctors typically attempt to alleviate signs, stop issues and maintain sufferers comfy.

Why do vaccination charges matter?

In communities with excessive vaccination charges—above 95%—illnesses like measles have a tougher time spreading by means of communities. That is known as “herd immunity.”

However childhood vaccination charges have declined nationwide for the reason that pandemic and extra dad and mom are claiming non secular or private conscience waivers to exempt their youngsters from required photographs.

The U.S. noticed an increase in measles circumstances in 2024, together with an outbreak in Chicago that sickened greater than 60.

© 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.