Measles Outbreak Continues to Persist

Today, I thought I would provide an update about an important health crisis that is currently occurring in our nation: the measles outbreak. As of a few days ago, the United States has now surpassed the number of cases diagnosed this year since the disease was eradicated in 2000, with a total of 1,288 cases. Although the cases have been primarily seen in West Texas and New Mexico, the people diagnosed with the measles span 38 out of our 50 states. Most of the time, the symptoms derived from the measles will subside after a couple of weeks; severe cases can result in hospitalization or develop into pneumonia, a respiratory infection. Unfortunately, there have already been three deaths from this outbreak, and reports from the CDC show that for every 1,000 children that contract measles, 1-3 of them will pass away. So, what can we do to prevent this from spreading? The most important step you can take is vaccinating yourself and your children if you have not already done so. Counties that have the highest number of measles cases report that fewer people have received their MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccinations. If we don’t take these measures, as epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm says, “Unless we change the status of vaccination levels, I don’t see it [the spread of measles] ending” (Rosenbluth and Corum).

Works Cited

Bendix, Aria. "Measles cases reach highest point since the disease was eliminated in U.S. in 2000." NBC News, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/measles-cases-reach-highest-point-disease-was-eliminated-us-2000-rcna201421. Accessed 10 July 2025.

Rosenbluth, Teddy, and Jonathan Corum. "Measles Cases Hit Highest Total Since U.S. Eliminated the Disease." New York Times, 9 July 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/well/us-measles-record-outbreaks.html. Accessed 10 July 2025.