Robert Besser
21 Mar 2025, 09:39 GMT+10
AUSTIN/SANTA FE: Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico increased to 317 on March 18, up from 294 four days earlier, as the U.S. faces one of its worst outbreaks in a decade.
The country has already exceeded last year's total of 285 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Immunologist Frederic Bertley said cases could reach around 1,200 this year, nearly five times higher than last year.
In 2019, the U.S. recorded 1,274 measles cases, the highest since 1992.
Gaines County, Texas, the center of the outbreak, saw cases rise to 191 on March 18 from 174 on March 14. Across the state, 36 people have been hospitalized.
In New Mexico, the number of cases increased from 35 to 38, with two in Eddy County and the rest in Lea County, which borders Gaines County.
Last week, Oklahoma health officials reported four "probable" cases of unvaccinated people who were exposed to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico.
Infectious disease expert Lisa Lee said controlling a measles outbreak can take months to a year but can be prevented if 95 percent to 99 percent of people are vaccinated.
An unvaccinated child in Texas died of measles in February, the first U.S. death from the disease since 2015. Another unvaccinated adult in New Mexico also died, but the case is still under investigation.
The CDC has said the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most important tool for preventing measles.
Get a daily dose of Middle East Star 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 Middle East Star.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates shared a video with Indian cricket legend Sachin...
New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has praised India's role in global innovation,...
Since the overthrow of the old regime, the new Damascus government has seen bloody sectarian violence and an economy in ruins It...
New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue Court has granted regular bail to Lakshay Vij who is an accused in a money laundering...
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell attends a press conference in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu...
Washington, DC [US], March 20 (ANI): US Senator and the NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has thanked God and employees of the US space...
AUSTIN/SANTA FE: Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico increased to 317 on March 18, up from 294 four days earlier, as the U.S. faces...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is considering strict new travel restrictions for citizens of dozens of countries, according...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration announced this week that Maine's education officials violated federal law by allowing transgender...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Severe storms and tornadoes continued to threaten parts of Pennsylvania, New York, and several Mid-Atlantic...
As Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza on Wednesday heralding a new ground invasion, a UN building was destroyed in a bombing, killing one...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Johns Hopkins University announced this week that it will cut over 2,000 jobs in the U.S. and other countries. This...