Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Mar 15: The United States has recorded 301 confirmed measles cases so far this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak has spread across 15 jurisdictions, with 50 hospitalizations and two reported deaths.
Texas remains the hardest-hit state, accounting for 259 of the total cases. Health officials reported that 34 patients have required hospital care. The Texas Department of State Health Services has warned that, given the highly contagious nature of measles, further infections are likely to emerge in affected areas and surrounding communities.
Measles, a highly transmissible viral infection, spreads through airborne particles when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a widespread rash. In severe cases, complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, and death can occur.
The CDC continues to stress that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine provide strong immunity against the disease.
Meanwhile, measles cases in Europe have also seen a sharp increase. The continent reported 127,350 cases in 2024—double the number from 2023 and the highest recorded since 1997. The European Region, which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, accounted for one-third of all global measles cases last year, according to an analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
Children under five made up more than 40% of reported cases in the region, and over half of the infected individuals required hospitalization. Preliminary data indicates that 38 deaths have been reported as of March 6, 2025.
Historically, measles cases in Europe had been on the decline, dropping from 216,000 cases in 1997 to just 4,440 in 2016. However, a resurgence occurred in 2018 and 2019, with 89,000 and 106,000 cases reported, respectively. Following a decline in immunization coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, cases have once again surged dramatically in 2023 and 2024.
Health officials worldwide continue to urge increased vaccination efforts to curb the spread of the disease.