U.S. Measles Outbreak Expands to 18 States, Surpasses 2024 Case Total

The outbreak, originating in a low-vaccination Mennonite community in Texas, has led to two deaths and highlights challenges with vaccine hesitancy and public health communication.

As of March 25, 2025, 378 measles cases have been confirmed across 18 states, with Texas reporting 327 cases and New Mexico 43 cases.
Two measles-related deaths have been reported: a school-aged child in Texas and an adult in New Mexico.
The outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, Texas, within a low-vaccination Mennonite community, and has since spread to areas including Kansas, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C.
Public health officials report that 95% of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, emphasizing the importance of the MMR vaccine.
Vaccination rates have increased in affected areas, with over 173,000 MMR doses administered in Texas and 13,100 in New Mexico since February.