All You Really Need to Know About the Recent Measles Outbreaks!
If you have been paying attention to the news lately, then you are aware that measles are back! Not that they really ever left. When measles were declared eradicated in the United States back in 2000, there should have been a disclaimer letting the public know that it was only a temporary eradication. Like most viruses, the only way to truly eradicate them is to do so globally. But with something like measles that is still prevalent in many communities around the world, the U.S. can never be completely free of cases. The CDC has tracked multiple outbreaks already in 2025. As of April 4, 2025, there have been a whopping 607 confirmed cases this year alone. This is up drastically from the 2024 total of 285 confirmed cases. So what do you really need to know about measles?
What are measles?
It might sound like a small furry friend, but measles is actually a highly contagious viral disease. Infection rates among unvaccinated individuals are extremely high. In fact, if there are 10 unvaccinated individuals in the vicinity of 1 infected person, 9 of those 10 will catch measles.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Measles symptoms will begin 7-14 days after contact. Common symptoms to keep a look out for include a high fever, possibly even spiking up to over 104’, cough, runny nose, red-watery eyes, and a rash that appears mostly on the chest and head.
Who is at risk?
Like with most viral diseases, unvaccinated young children and older adults have the highest chances of contracting Measles. But all unvaccinated individuals are at a high risk of contracting Measles.
How does it spread?
Measles spreads through the air. When an infected person coughs or sneezes and gets the virus into the air it can easily be inhaled by anyone near by the infected individual. The measles virus can even stay alive in the air up to 2 hours meaning you can catch measles just by entering a room where an infected person has been.
What can you do to protect yourself?
The number one way of preventing yourself or others from catching the virus is by getting vaccinated. Specifically with the MMR- that’s measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. This is a safe and effective vaccine that the CDC reports as being about 97% effective at prevention when two doses have been taken and 93% with just one dose. So, if you have been vaccinated-especially with two doses, you should be pretty safe. But if you are unvaccinated, you run the risk of not only catching the virus yourself but of spreading it to countless others.
Information taken from:
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561
https://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/disease-outbreaks/index.html