Measles Outbreak Expands to 4 States
Kansas now has an outbreak with at least 10 confirmed cases with an expectation from the state's health officials that there will be more.
This photograph depicts a child who was infected with the measles during a US outbreak in 2024. The child’s cheek shows the characteristic rash associated with this viral infection.
Image credit: CDC/ Tatiana Lanzieri, MD, MPH
As of March 20, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that there are now 378 cases of measles in the US, with 4 states experiencing outbreaks including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Cases run across 18 jurisdictions, and 17% of these cases (64 people) have been hospitalized in 2025.1
In terms of the ages of the individuals hospitalized, here is the breakdown:
- Under 5 years: 27% (34 of 124)
- 5-19 years: 11% (18 of 159)
- 20+ years: 13% (11 of 86)
- Age unknown: 11% (1 of 9) 1
In terms of mortality, there is 1 confirmed death from measles and 1 death that is under investigation. 1 Looking at the vaccination status for all the cases, 95% are unvaccinated or unknown, 3% of cases have had 1 dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and 2% of cases have had 2 MMR doses. 1
Here is an update on the 4 states dealing with outbreaks:
Texas: As of March 25, there are 327 cases in the state with 40 hospitalizations. Of the cases, 325 of them are unvaccinated.2 This outbreak is still increasing since last week’s numbers were reported.
New Mexico: As of March 25, there are 43 confirmed cases in the state, with 2 hospitalizations.3 There has been a slight increase in the outbreak since last week.
Oklahoma: As of March 25, there are 9 cases with zero hospitalizations. All 9 cases were considered in the unvaccinated/unknown category. 4
Kansas: As of last Friday, March 21, the state confirmed there is 10 cases. All of the confirmed cases are ages 0-17, and 9 of them were unvaccinated.5
The outbreak has been seen in 3 neighboring counties in the southwest part of Kansas with Grant, Stevens, and Morton counties reporting cases.5
“Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area in Kansas and in surrounding counties, especially among those that are unvaccinated,” The Kansas Department of Health and Environment wrote on its site.5Although not confirmed, social media is reporting there is as many of 23 cases in the state as of today, March 26.
Measles Advisory for Northeast
Unrelated to these aforementioned outbreaks, a person infected with measles took an Amtrak train, the Northeast Regional 175, that was part of the Boston to Washington DC route from 7:30pm to 1:30pm back on March 19, according to the Washington DC Department of Health. The announcement does not say where the infected person boarded the train, but it says the person did enter Union Station in DC between 11pm and 1:30am on that date and then went to MedStar Urgent Care in Adams Morgan, in Washington on March 22, between 7:00pm-11:00pm.
The DC Department of Health says people who were in those locations and might have been exposed and are not immune should contact their health care provider or DC Health at 844-493-2652 for more guidance.
