Measles Cases Rise in the United States

According to news reports, another child has died from measles in the Texas outbreak.

This brings to two the number of paediatric deaths so far. Prior to the current outbreak, the last measles death in the United States was in 2015

According to CDC, 561 cases have been notified since late January with 58 hospitalisations. All ages groups have been affected with 550, either unvaccinated or unknown. Gaines county has been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak in Texas. The number of cases is likely understated with many going unreported.

As of April 10, 2025, a total of 712 cases of measles have been reported in 25 jurisdictions in the United States. This is more than double the cases for the 5-year period from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2004.

For a detailed view of the current situation in the United States refer to CDC.

Canada’s Parallel Outbreak

The Canada outbreak is also ongoing. Eight hundred and eighty confirmed and probable cases have been notified for this year to April 5, 2025. The vast majority have been reported from Ontario.

Most cases are unvaccinated.

Global Context

Cases have been linked to travel to Cambodia, Kenya, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, South Korea, United States and Vietnam.

It is interesting to note there were no cases of measles notified during the pandemic years of 2020, 2021. There were just 3 in 2022.

The current Texas outbreak and the one in Canada were also discussed in early March.