The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is celebrating Air Quality Awareness Week, which runs from May 5 through May 9. The goal of the nationwide initiative is to share information about the importance of clean air, the EPA’s ongoing efforts to address air pollution, and resources to stay engaged. The week also aligns with World Asthma Day on May 6. Additionally, May is both Asthma Awareness Month and Wildfire Awareness Month.

Air Quality Awareness Week, with the theme “Stay Air Aware,” highlights resources that increase air quality awareness and encourages people to stay aware of their air quality and incorporate air quality knowledge into their daily living. 

Air Quality Awareness Week also provides an opportunity for people to learn how they can take action to prepare for and respond to events and environments with poor air quality— not just during the month of May, but year-round.

Today the EPA’s focus is on indoor air quality. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary causes of indoor air quality problems, according to the EPA. Some health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposures to a pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal, the EPA stated. 

The EPA’s three basic strategies to improve indoor air quality include:

1. Source control—Identify and eliminate individual sources of pollution. In most cases, source control is the most effective solution to indoor air quality problems. 
2. Ventilation improvement— Lower the concentration of indoor air pollutants by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. 
3. Air cleaners/filtration—The use of portable air cleaners and higher efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters can supplement enhancements from source control and improved ventilation. 

As of May 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 935 confirmed measles cases in 29 states: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. (The CDC is aware of probable measles cases still being reported, and the case count is higher.)

Not in the CDC’s data is the first case of measles reported in North Dakota on May 2. This brings the total number of states with cases up to 30. North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed the state’s first case of measles since 2011. The case involves an unvaccinated child from Williams County who is believed to have contracted the illness from an out-of-state visitor. North Dakota currently reports an 81% measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate among toddlers, and a 90% rate among kindergarten students for the 2024-2025 school year. According to public health data, a 95% vaccination rate is generally needed to prevent wider spread in communities.

On Monday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) updated its number of measles cases in Illinois so far in 2025 to six. Two new cases in Southern Illinois were confirmed during the weekend, adding to two in the Marion area that were identified in April. Two unrelated cases were previously confirmed in Cook County.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) reported that measles cases grew to 702 on Tuesday. One percent, or fewer than 10 of the confirmed cases, are estimated to be actively infectious since their rash onset date was less than a week ago. Based on the most recent data, TDSHS has identified designated outbreak counties with ongoing measles transmission: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum. The state now has 29 counties that have reported cases.

Most of the cases are in children, and 91 people have been hospitalized over the course of the outbreak. On April 6, TDSHS reported the second death of a school-age child with no underlying conditions in the ongoing outbreak. The first unvaccinated school-aged child with no underlying conditions died of measles complications on Feb. 26 in Texas.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) also reported that the state’s case count for measles has risen to 67 as of May 6. While most cases remain in Lea County, the outbreak spread to Eddy, Chaves, and Doña Ana Counties. Seven residents have required hospitalization. NMDOH recorded the death of one unvaccinated Lea County resident on March 6, the second in the outbreak.

As of April 30, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that measles cases grew to 46 in eight counties in the state’s southwest corner. One Kansas resident has required hospitalization for measles. Kansas reported its first measles case on March 13, which is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing.

As of May 6, Oklahoma State Department of Health reported its case count has grown to 17.