You may have heard about the measles and rubella outbreaks happening in parts of the U.S. recently, causing 301 infections and one death. Measles and rubella are infectious viral diseases that can cause fevers and a red rash on the skin. Measles symptoms typically resolve within a few weeks, but in certain cases, they can be extremely dangerous, causing pneumonia and brain swelling. Rubella causes symptoms of mild measles and can cause malformation in developing fetuses. As outbreaks of these diseases are rare, the number of cases reported by certain jurisdictions in the U.S. is unprecedented and has sparked attention and worry from American citizens. But how did these outbreaks start? How can they be stopped? Why are these cases so important?
The measles outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, an agricultural town in Texas. According to The New York Times, “Measles has spread into neighboring counties and infected at least 259 people”. The Gaines County outbreak has been primarily caused by unvaccinated children. ABC News finds that “Roughly 7.5% of kindergarteners had parents or guardians who filed for an exemption for at least one vaccine in 2013. Ten years later, that number rose to more than 17.5%— one of the highest in all of Texas.” The CDC reports that of all cases nationwide, “95% of patients are considered unvaccinated.”
Although the majority of over 300 cases reported nationwide have occurred in Texas, measles and rubella have also been reported in areas including New Mexico, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, California, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. One in five unvaccinated people who get measles will be hospitalized. Unfortunately, the outbreak has proven fatal for a child in West Texas. An article from CBS News states “A child who was hospitalized with measles has died from the illness. It is the first death in a measles outbreak that has infected more than 200 people since late January.” A woman from Lea County, New Mexico, has also died with measles, however it has not been confirmed that it was the cause of her death.
Overall, the 2025 measles outbreak has been a very tragic event. However, it can serve an important purpose in further educating America about the importance of vaccines, hygiene, and safety.
