A second unvaccinated child has died from measles amid an ongoing outbreak in Texas and nearby states.
Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus that can be prevented through vaccination, is making a comeback in the United States. Three people have died and more than 50 have been hospitalized in a rapidly growing outbreak that began in Texas and has since spread to New Mexico and other states.
On April 6, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that a school-age girl in Lubbock, Texas had died from measles pulmonary failure. This comes weeks after state officials confirmed the death of a child in rural West Texas, the first person in the U.S. to die from measles since 2015. Both children were unvaccinated.
In March, the New Mexico Department of Health reported that an unvaccinated adult who tested positive for measles had also died.
Three months into 2025, the U.S. has recorded over 607 confirmed measles cases, which is higher than the total number of cases during any single year since 2019, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of April 4, Texas has reported 481 cases of measles since late January, including 56 hospitalizations, per state officials. But the real numbers are likely higher, experts say. At least 471 out of the 481 infected are unvaccinated.
New Mexico officials have recorded 54 measles cases and two hospitalizations so far — at least 36 of the people infected are confirmed to be unvaccinated.
A measles outbreak in nearby Kansas has doubled in the past week. Health officials have confirmed 24 cases, and genetic testing suggests a link to the Texas outbreak, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said.
Officials in Oklahoma have reported 10 measles cases, which are also linked to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, the Oklahoma State Department of Health said.
Last week, the Ohio Department of Health also confirmed a cluster of 10 measles infections, all among unvaccinated individuals.
"More cases are expected as this outbreak continues to expand rapidly," the CDC said in a recent health alert.
Measles, also known as rubeola, is a viral infection which causes a rash, high fever, cough and other flu-like symptoms.
Infection with measles can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and death, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com.
The measles virus spreads very easily from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. “We consider measles to be one of the most contagious viruses we know," says Schaffner.
Once a common childhood disease, measles was eliminated in the the U.S. by 2000 thanks to the measles vaccine and successful population immunization efforts.
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles and its complications. Two doses of the MMR vaccine, which are given at 12-15 months of age and between 4-6 years of age, are 97% effective, per the CDC.
However, the virus has reemerged in recent years, causing sporadic cases and outbreaks. “Parents across the country have been withholding their children from measles vaccination,” says Schaffner. According to the CDC, MMR vaccine coverage among kindergarteners is below the 95% target — and even lower in specific communities — and keeps decreasing.
What's more, global measles activity is rising, which means there's a greater chance of cases being imported by people who acquire the virus abroad and return to the U.S. "We now have these pockets of susceptible people across the country where measles can enter and spread,” says Schaffner.
“If measles finds a population of unvaccinated persons here, it’s likely to create a burst of infections,” Schaffner adds.
The recent resurgence in measles has many public health experts on high alert. As the outbreak grows, some are wondering if it is possible to get measles if you've been vaccinated. Here's what experts think:
Can you get measles if you're vaccinated?
Yes, it is possible to get measles if you've been vaccinated, but this is highly unlikely, experts say. "Your chances of getting measles are extraordinarily low after two doses," says Schaffner.
The measles vaccine is safe and highly effective, according to the CDC. MMR is a live, attenuated (weakened) virus vaccine, and people who are fully vaccinated are considered to have lifelong immunity to the virus.
“Unlike many other vaccines that don’t have lifetime durability, the measles vaccine is incredibly durable in its protection,” Dr. Mark Kline, an infectious disease physician at LCMC Health and Manning Children’s New Orleans, tells TODAY.com.
One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective, per the CDC. Two doses are 97% effective at protecting against measles.
"It's not perfect, which means that on rare, unusual occasions someone who's completely vaccinated can acquire measles," says Schaffner.
According the CDC, about 3 out of 100 people who get two doses of MMR vaccine will get measles if exposed to the virus.
"That usually occurs in the context of a community outbreak, where a person gets a very large dose of the measles virus, and gets what's called a breakthrough infection," Schaffner adds.
Breakthrough infections may also occur if a person's immune system fails to respond to the vaccine, which is uncommon. "There are rare exceptions of people who, for whatever reason, do not respond in the usual way to measles vaccination and do not develop protective antibodies," Kline adds. However, the rate of vaccine failure is still very low.
Fortunately, breakthrough infections in people who are vaccinated against measles tend to be milder, the experts say. These individuals often have a lower viral load and are less likely to spread the virus to other people, according to the CDC.
Overall, it's very unlikely that you'll contract measles if you're fully vaccinated.
In the Texas outbreak, only seven of the 481 people infected were confirmed to have received two doses of the MMR vaccine; three had received one dose of the vaccine.
Out of the 54 people infected in New Mexico, six were confirmed to be vaccinated with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.
Currently, the number of breakthrough infections in the U.S. is consistent with previous years, per the CDC.
How do I know if I'm protected against measles?
If you aren't sure whether you were vaccinated against measles, you can check your immunization records or request these from your doctor. If you have had two doses of the live MMR vaccine after 12 months of age, you are protected against measles for life, the experts say.
You can also check your medical records for documentation of prior infection with measles. If you've have it in the past, you're considered immune because getting measles provides you lifetime protection, the experts note.
"If you were born before 1957, you are likely to have experienced measles and don’t need vaccination," says Schaffner. The measles vaccine became available in 1963. Before then, nearly all children got measles by age 15, per the CDC.
"Measles was rampant at that time, prior to vaccination, so we consider all those folks to be immune," says Kline.
However, people who were born between 1957 and 1968 may have received an earlier version of the measles vaccine, which was not as effective as the current version, says Schaffner.
"There was a killed vaccine that was used for a while, which offered some protection but didn't have the durability that the modern vaccine does," says Kline. These individuals need an additional dose.
If you cannot access your immunization record and you aren't sure if you have had measles, talk to your doctor. There are blood tests that can measure levels of measles antibodies in the blood. "If they are either absent or low, then we’ll vaccinate you," says Schaffner.
However, this testing process is often lengthy and expensive, the experts note. The easiest thing to do is to get another dose of the MMR vaccine, which is completely safe, says Kline.
“Vaccinating someone who’s already immune (either through vaccination or prior infection) does no harm, and it’s quick and easy," says Schaffner.
"Most of us in public health say, when in doubt, just vaccinate," Schaffner adds.
Who needs a measles booster?
Adults who were vaccinated before 1968 with the older killed version of the measles vaccine or an unknown type of vaccine should be revaccinated with at least one dose of the current live measles vaccine, the experts note.
Older children, teenagers and adults who are unvaccinated and do not have immunity should get two doses of MMR vaccine, at least 28 days apart, per the CDC.
How contagious is measles?
Measles is airborne and extremely contagious, the experts note. Scientists measure the infectiousness of a virus using something called a reproductive number, or R0. The R0 refers to how many people, on average, how an infected person will infect.
Research shows that the R0 of measles is 12-18, meaning a person with measles can spread the virus to 12 to 18 people.
“It gets an Olympic gold for contagiousness,” says Schaffner.
Measles symptoms
Measles symptoms typically appear about seven to 14 days after exposure, per the CDC. Measles symptoms include:
- Cough
- High fever
- Runny nose
- Red, irritated eyes
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth
- Rash
Measles symptoms do not appear all at the same time, per the Cleveland Clinic. People first develop a fever and flu-like symptoms, followed by white spots in inside the mouth. About three to five days after the initial symptoms, a rash appears.
The measles rash usually begins as flat, red spots around the hairline which spread down the body. These spots may look blotchy then join together into one big rash, and some may develop raised bumps. The rash lasts for about a week, but can take longer to fade completely.
Common complications may include diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia, per the CDC. About 1 in 1,000 people who get measles will develop encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, says Schaffner, which can cause permanent brain damage or death.
"Measles is not a trivial infection," Schaffner adds.
Measles treatment
There is no cure or specific treatment for measles, the experts note. "We would treat you with the best supportive care we have," says Schaffner.
How to protect against measles
Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against measles and its complications.
It also helps protect your community, especially vulnerable groups. These include infants who are too young to get the MMR vaccine and people who are immunocompromised or ineligible to get vaccinated for medical reasons, says Schaffner.
Widespread immunization creates a "cocoon of protection" around these frail individuals, he adds.
The American Medical Association is urging the public to get vaccinated among the growing outbreaks.
“As parents, our instinct is to do everything we can to keep our children safe. In the case of measles — a highly contagious disease that can cause severe health problems — that means getting your children vaccinated today,” AMA president Dr. Bruce Scott, said in a press release on March 5.
