A historic achievement was announced in 2000: the eradication of the devastating measles virus through the widespread use of the MMR vaccine in the United States. Before the vaccine, measles devastated communities and spread at overwhelming rates. With high rates of infectivity, secondary infections, and fatalities, measles was a notorious disease that required a robust solution to control its spread.
In 1971, the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were combined to create the MMR vaccine. Before the vaccine, measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths per year. In 2023, an estimated 107,500 died from measles, the majority being children under the age of five years. Widespread vaccination against measles effectively decreased reported measles cases and by 2000, no cases in the United States were reported for a consecutive 12 months. Since 2000, an average of 179 measles cases have been reported each year.
As of March 20th, 2025, 378 measles cases have been confirmed in 18 states, including New York. According to the CDC, 33% of these cases are in children under the age of five, and 42% of cases are in children aged five to nineteen.
The outbreak began in Texas and in February 2025, a measles-related death in an unvaccinated child with no underlying medical issues was reported. As of March 23rd, 2025, 309 measles cases have been documented in Texas since January 2025. Of these patients, 40 have been admitted to the hospital and two deaths have been reported. 98 of these cases have involved children aged 5 to 17. Out of these reported cases, 247 fall under unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status.
What is Measles?
Measles virus is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is spread through airborne droplets and aerosols. It can remain in the air for about two hours afters after its release, allowing for transmission even when an infected person has left a room. Measles is predominately spread through coughing and sneezing and can rapidly spread across individuals.
Measles is not simply a rash and fever; it can lead to dangerous opportunistic infections, including pneumonia, and cause immune system suppression for up to 3 years after infection. The virus initially targets immune cells in the lung called alveolar macrophages. It replicates effectively in tissues that house immune cells such as lymphoid tissues and can also infect other immune cells. This results in a suppression of the immune system’s ability to fight against other viruses or bacteria. Measles then causes a systemic infection, spreading to different parts of the body like the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and in rare cases, the brain.
The Measles Vaccine
Measles has historically caused a significant number of fatalities, particularly in children, before the introduction of the vaccine. However, infection and fatality numbers have been notably diminished by vaccination against measles.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended in the United States and Canada and are shown to be most effective in providing life-long immunity for individuals and preventing measles infections in communities. Studies have also demonstrated the importance of childhood vaccination against measles in curving infant and childhood measles cases and deaths.
Despite the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, low vaccination rates in certain communities have resulted in a rapid spread of measles that can be difficult to control. The effects are being seen in counties like Gaines County, Texas, which has a high number of unvaccinated residents.
Centers for vaccination in Texas have been set to provide access to families, however, residents refuse vaccination for a variety of reasons. False beliefs about vaccine safety and religion-based opposition have been the main contributors to anti-vaccine sentiment across the country. The association between vaccination and autism has been thoroughly disproven; however, this belief is still strongly held by individuals who refuse vaccination for themselves and their children.
The Importance of Vaccination
Refusing vaccination poses a threat to communities. Immunization against highly contagious viruses like measles provides herd immunity and protects communities as a whole. This also protects vulnerable individuals in a community, such as children, the elderly, or immunocompromised individuals. Lower vaccination rates in a community break the circle of protection, leading to outbreaks that can rapidly spread across the country.
Measles can cause fatal complications so its severity should not be diminished. Safety precautions such as quarantine, general hand hygiene, and avoiding contact with sick individuals are ways to stop the spread of measles during this outbreak. However, the most effective way to protect yourself and your community from measles is vaccination. More information about measles, prevention, and the vaccine can be found on the CDC website.