A rapidly expanding measles outbreak in the southwestern United States has claimed two lives and infected more than 200 people, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel warning.
As of Friday, Texas had recorded 198 cases, while New Mexico confirmed 30, bringing the total to 228 infections. Both states have reported one fatality, with the deceased individuals being unvaccinated. While the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator has not yet officially determined the cause of death for the adult patient, the CDC has classified it as measles-related.
“More cases are expected as this outbreak continues to expand rapidly,” the CDC warned in a Health Alert Network advisory directed at healthcare workers, public health officials, and travelers. With the upcoming spring and summer travel seasons, the agency urged vigilance for signs of the disease and emphasized the importance of vaccination.
Measles is an extremely contagious virus that spreads through respiratory droplets and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area. It typically causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and a rash but can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.
The CDC stresses that vaccination is the most effective protection against measles. The standard measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides 93% immunity after one dose and 97% after two doses. The vaccine is recommended for all children beginning at 12 months of age.
However, vaccination rates in the U.S. have been declining, a trend exacerbated by misinformation surrounding immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC recommends a 95% vaccination rate to achieve herd immunity, but national coverage among kindergarteners had fallen to 92.7% by the 2023-2024 school year.
The epicenter of the outbreak is a county in west Texas with a large Mennonite religious community, where vaccine hesitancy has historically been prevalent. Nationwide, religious exemptions to vaccination requirements have been increasing, contributing to the recent decline in immunization rates.
Adding to the controversy, current U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of spreading vaccine misinformation, particularly the false claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism—an assertion thoroughly debunked by scientific research. Since the outbreak began, he has softened his stance, encouraging vaccination while also promoting alternative treatments such as vitamin A and steroids. While these treatments can help manage symptoms, experts warn that prioritizing them over immunization may undermine efforts to increase vaccine uptake.
This marks the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015, when a Washington state woman died from measles-induced pneumonia while on immunosuppressive medication. Before that, the last recorded measles fatality occurred in 2003.
As the outbreak continues to grow, public health officials are urging Americans—especially those in affected areas—to get vaccinated and remain vigilant against further spread.
