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As of Friday, the number of measles cases in the United States has officially climbed beyond 700, capping a week marked by new outbreaks and rising concerns across multiple states. Indiana has now joined the growing list of states battling active measles clusters, while Texas has seen a particularly sharp increase, with 60 new cases added in just one week. The outbreak also claimed its third reported life, highlighting the ongoing severity of the situation.
Despite these rising figures, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made remarks during a nationally televised Cabinet meeting on Thursday, claiming the nationwide measles trend was “plateauing.” However, contrary to his statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deployed a specialized team back to West Texas, signaling the government’s concern about continued community transmission, especially in under-vaccinated populations.
The total number of measles cases recorded so far in 2025 has already surpassed twice the entire count from 2024, with Texas accounting for the largest share. The Lone Star State alone has reported a staggering 541 cases, according to health officials.
The Texas outbreak has been particularly deadly. Two of the state’s cases involved elementary school-aged children who were unvaccinated and succumbed to complications related to measles infections near the outbreak’s epicenter in rural West Texas. In response, Secretary Kennedy made a personal visit to the affected community on Sunday to assess the situation. Meanwhile, the third confirmed measles-related death occurred in New Mexico, involving an unvaccinated adult.
At the time of reporting, six U.S. states — Texas, New Mexico, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma — had met the CDC’s criteria for having active measles outbreaks, which is defined as three or more related cases within a specific area.
Public health experts have long warned that measles, a highly contagious and airborne virus, could easily re-establish itself in communities where vaccination coverage is low. These warnings are now playing out, as the virus spreads across state lines. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that some of the measles cases now being reported in Mexico are genetically linked to the outbreak in Texas.
Measles can be spread when an infected individual simply coughs, sneezes, or even breathes in proximity to others, making it one of the most infectious diseases in existence. While it is easily preventable with a vaccine, the U.S. has witnessed a concerning resurgence in cases, despite the disease being considered eliminated from the country as far back as 2000.
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