Nearly Half of US States Have Confirmed Measles Cases This Year

As of April 10, a total of 712 confirmed measles cases were reported by 24 states this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC is aware of probable measles cases still being reported, and the case count is higher.) Since last week, more than 100 new cases have been confirmed and three new states—Indiana, Arkansas, and Hawaii–have reported measles cases.

Other states that have reported measles cases this year include: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

On April 10, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) reported its first and second confirmed case of pediatric measles in an unvaccinated Arkansas residents from Saline and Faulkner Counties. The individuals who tested positive were exposed during out-of-state travel. These marked the first measles cases in Arkansas since 2018.

On April 7, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) reported its first confirmed case of measles in the state this year. The case is in an unvaccinated minor in Allen County. On April 9, IDOH confirmed five additional cases of measles in the state. All six cases are connected to each other but currently no known links to outbreaks in other states exist. The four minors were unvaccinated, and the adults’ vaccination status is unclear. All are recovering. These cases marked the first in Indiana since a measles case was confirmed in a Lake County resident in early 2024.

On April 8, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child under 5 years of age on Oʻahu. The child had recently returned from international travel with its parents. A household member with similar symptoms is also being evaluated for possible measles infection. Prior to the cases, DOH already was providing more information about the increasing risk of exposure to and complications from measles, as well as the safety and effectiveness of measles vaccination.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) reported that measles cases grew to 541 as of April 11, marking an increase of 36 since April 8. Most of the cases are in children. Fifty-six 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.

TDSHS said 5%, or fewer than 30 of the confirmed cases, are estimated to be actively infectious since their rash onset date was more 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 22 counties that have reported cases, up from 19 last week.

In March, The World Health Organization has said cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) also reported that the state’s case count for measles has risen to 58 as of April 11. While most cases remain in Lea County, the outbreak spread to Eddy County, which has reported two cases, and for the first time Chaves County, which reported one case. As of April 11, four Lea County 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 11, Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that measles cases grew to 32 in eight counties in the southwest corner of the state. Kansas reported its first measles case on March 13, which is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing.

Colorado has a total of three confirmed measles cases in 2025 in Pueblo, Denver, and Archuleta counties. In the state’s latest case in an Archuleta County adult resident, the person’s vaccination history is unknown. The current evidence also shows that the case is likely not linked to the cases in Pueblo or Denver. 

“This case does not appear to be linked to the other cases reported in Colorado and the individual did not travel outside of Colorado, which leaves open the possibility of community transmission,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “We urge Coloradans to monitor for symptoms if they may have been exposed, and to make sure they are up to date on their MMR vaccinations.”

Outside the multistate Texas outbreak, Ohio has the highest reported number of cases with 14 now, according to the Associated Press.

Last week, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly urged people to get the measles vaccine in an interview with CBS News on April 8.