Measles, once nearly eradicated in the United States, is on the rise again in the U.S. As of February 2025, Texas has reported 146 cases, with the majority being unvaccinated children. Tragically, one child has already died, marking the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015. This outbreak has experts worried that things could get much worse, as the possibility of a more global outbreak exists.
Measles is an incredibly contagious respiratory disease. The virus spreads quickly through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can stay in the air for up to two hours, meaning one may catch it even without close contact with an infected individual. As such, if one enters a room where someone with measles was in the last two hours, they could still catch the virus. If one person has measles, up to 90 percent of those nearby who are not immune can get infected.
Symptoms of measles usually show up about one to two weeks after exposure. It starts with a cough, fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. After a few days, a telltale rash appears, starting on the face and spreading down the body. Though most people recover, measles can lead to serious health complications, especially for unvaccinated children and adults.
The best protection against measles is vaccination. The MMR vaccine, which also protects against mumps and rubella (two other viral infections), is highly effective. However, vaccination rates in the U.S. have been declining, making it easier for the virus to spread. Experts warn that unless more people get vaccinated, outbreaks like the current one could become more common, leading to even more deaths.