Robert Besser
14 May 2025, 18:21 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The number of measles cases in the U.S. has gone over 1,000 for the first time in five years, according to federal data released last week.
The country is dealing with one of its worst outbreaks of this childhood disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,001 cases in 31 states. However, this number doesn't include the latest update from Texas, which has seen a significant surge. Texas now has 709 cases, with seven new ones recently reported.
Experts warn that the U.S. could soon see measles become common again, 25 years after it was declared wiped out in the country. The last time cases exceeded 1,000 was in 2019, with a total of 1,274 cases.
Lisa Maragakis, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said the numbers could remain high or even continue to grow.
The Texas outbreak, which has killed two children and infected hundreds, started in a Mennonite community and has spread to nearby states like New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
So far this year, 13 percent of people with measles have been hospitalized, and three people have died. The CDC says there have been 14 outbreaks this year, each with at least three related cases.
Doctors say it is harder to fight measles now because health officials aren't strongly promoting vaccines, and many parents are hearing confusing or false claims about other treatments.
The CDC says the measles vaccine is 97 percent effective after two doses.
Get a daily dose of Illinois Intelligencer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.
More InformationTOKYO, Japan: Toyota Motor Corp is bracing for a 21 percent decline in full-year profit, as the impact of President Donald Trump's...
This photo taken on April 23, 2025 shows Tianchi crater lake on Changbai Mountains in northeast China's Jilin Province. (Xinhua/Wang...
New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): Former Indian diplomat Mahesh Sachdev has questioned the actions of US President Donald Trump in claiming...
New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): United States may reduce its oil production which could lead to an annual decline in output in 2026...
BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- A selection of the best press photos from Xinhua.People visit the Xi'an Beilin Museum in Xi'an, northwest...
(250514) -- DOHA, May 14, 2025 (Xinhua) -- The result of drawing shows on the screen after the drawing ceremony for the FIBA Basketball...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The number of measles cases in the U.S. has gone over 1,000 for the first time in five years, according to federal...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department said it has started a national security investigation into the import of commercial...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft has prohibited its employees from using Deepseek, a Chinese artificial intelligence app, citing concerns...
HONOLULU, Hawaii: Pharmaceutical giants Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi have agreed to pay $700 million to Hawaii to settle a lawsuit...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this week it will start using artificial intelligence (AI) in all...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Citigroup must defend itself against a revived lawsuit accusing the bank of facilitating and concealing a...