Measles outbreak update: CDC map shows where the disease is spreading after Texas child confirmed dead

Measles cases continue to rise in the United States nearly two and a half decades after the virus had been declared eliminated in the country. Currently, the epicenter of the U.S. measles outbreak is in Texas, where one child has now died from the disease. Here’s what to know about the outbreak, how far it has spread, and the symptoms to watch out for.

Measles U.S. outbreak map

As of the time of this writing, there are more than 130 cases of measles across two states alone, reports Reuters. Those states are Texas and New Mexico. However, while Texas has garnered the headlines due to it having the majority of cases, the disease has been found in other U.S. states since the beginning of this year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles cases have been reported in eight states. The CDC’s Measles Cases and Outbreaks page has an interactive map and charts that show the current locations at a range of the number of cases.

The CDC updates its outbreak page with new data every Friday, but as of its last update on February 20, 2025, the states with outbreaks reported this year are:

• Alaska: 1-9 cases
• California: 1-9 cases
• Georgia: 1-9 cases
• New Jersey: 1-9 cases
• New Mexico: 1-9 cases
• New York (city): 1-9 cases
• Rhode Island: 1-9 cases
• Texas: 50-99 cases

As of the page’s last update, the CDC says the total known number of cases of measles in the United States since the beginning of the year was 93. The true number is now much higher, with over 130 cases in just New Mexico and Texas alone.

Measles sees a steady rise in the United States

In 2000, measles was officially declared eliminated from the United States, which was defined as there being no continuous transmission of the disease in the country for more than a year, notes Reuters. Its elimination was a major public health milestone for the country. 

Of course, in the years since then, people who live in the United States did contract measles, yet nearly all of them caught the disease outside of the country and brought it back home with them. But ever since the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the anti-vaccine movement, measles has returned to the United States.

The CDC says that in 2024 alone, there were 285 cases of measles in the United States. Forty percent of those cases required hospitalization, and more than half of those cases occurred in children under five years of age. What’s more, 89% of individuals with measles in the United States in 2024 were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.

With more than 130 cases of measles in just two states this year, it’s looking likely that the number of measles cases in 2025 may surpass the total number of cases in 2024. The 93 cases confirmed by the CDC’s February 20 update shows that 30% of them occurred in children under the age of 5, and 52% of them occurred in those aged just 5 to 19 years old. Unvaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is not known made up 95% of the cases.

In all of 2023, there were just 59 cases in the United States.

Measles symptoms

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads via the air, according to the CDC. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has been there. It can also survive on surfaces. If a person touches those surfaces and then their eyes, nose, or mouth, the virus can be introduced to their system.

The CDC says that symptoms of measles start to show about 7-14 days after infection. Initial symptoms include:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104°)
• Cough
• Runny nose (coryza)
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)

The agency also notes that about 2-3 days after symptoms appear, the infected may begin to show Koplik spots inside their mouth. Koplik spots are tiny white marks. Then, 3-5 days after symptoms appear, the infected will usually get a rash, first beginning at their hairline and on their face, and then extending down the body.

Is measles deadly?

Yes, it can be. As Reuters reports, one child has already been confirmed to have died from the disease in Texas. It is the first U.S. death from measles in a decade. The child was known to be unvaccinated.

Besides the potential to be fatal, measles can also have long-lasting or permanent complications. These include pneumonia; encephalitis (which can leave the person deaf or intellectually disabled); complications during pregnancy; and Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal disease that affects the nervous system.

Those most at risk from measles are children under the age of 5, pregnant women, adults older than 20, and people with weakened immune systems.

How can I protect myself from measles?

The CDC says the best way to protect yourself from measles is by getting vaccinated.

There are two measles vaccines available in the United States:

• The MMR vaccine protects against three diseases—measles, mumps, and rubella—and is given in two doses.
• The MMRV vaccine protects against four diseases—measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox)—and is given in two doses.

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