Last week, the measles cases in Kansas more than doubled to 20, with another outbreak in Ohio involving 10 people, as reported by local public health officials on Wednesday.
There have been several significant outbreaks in the US this year, including a large outbreak in West Texas with more than 320 cases and 40 hospitalizations. Health officials are concerned about the spread of the Texas outbreak to other areas.
More than 40 cases of measles have been reported in New Mexico, with seven identified in Oklahoma. Officials in both states have linked the infections to the Texas outbreak.
In Kansas, the virus is predominantly affecting vaccinated children in the southwest corner of the state. State health officials informed The New York Times on Wednesday that the genetic sequence suggests a connection to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico.
Fourteen other states reported quarantined measles cases in 2025, often linked to international travel. In Ohio, nine out of 10 cases were traced back to unvaccinated individuals who had recently traveled abroad.
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the director of Ohio’s Department of Health, stated, “While we are disheartened by the measles outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico, and other states, we are not surprised to see some cases here in Ohio.”
Experts are concerned that low vaccination rates across the country have made it susceptible to the resurgence of preventable diseases like measles.
Less than 93% of kindergarteners received the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine between 2023 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts recommend a vaccination rate of at least 95% in the community to prevent outbreaks.
In Kansas, 90% of kindergarten children received MMR shots between 2023 and 24, according to state data.
About 89% of Ohio kindergarteners received the MMR vaccine that year.
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughing and sneezing when an infected person breathes.
Infected individuals can develop symptoms like high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes within weeks of exposure. A telltale rash typically appears within a few days.
While most cases resolve within a few weeks, the virus can cause complications like pneumonia, especially in children, leading to difficulty breathing. Infection can also result in brain swelling, leading to permanent damage like blindness, hearing loss, and intellectual disability. According to the CDC, for every 1,000 children with measles, one or two may die.
One child died in the Texas outbreak, marking the first measles-related death in the US in a decade. Another suspected measles-related death was reported in New Mexico.
Source: www.nytimes.com
