Measles is making a worrying comeback. As of this week, Canada and the U.S. are seeing a steep rise in cases, with Alberta reporting 1,246 infections and Mexico’s Chihuahua state confirming 2,966 cases and 8 deaths. In the U.S., the virus has touched nearly every region, from Texas to Montana, as health officials scramble to contain spread and trace sources.
- Texas: The Epicenter of U.S. Cases
Texas remains the hardest hit, holding steady at 753 outbreak-related cases across 36 counties. The bulk of these are in Gaines County, home to an undervaccinated Mennonite community with 414 confirmed cases, nearly 2% of its population.
Two unvaccinated children in Texas, ages 6 and 8, have died from complications related to measles. One of them suffered from “measles pulmonary failure,” according to local doctors. While 99 people in Texas have been hospitalized, fewer than 10 were still infectious as of Tuesday.
- New Mexico and Surrounding States
New Mexico has reported 95 cases, with 14 linked to a jail outbreak in Luna County. One unvaccinated adult died without seeking medical care, and seven others have been hospitalized.
Oklahoma has reported 17 confirmed and 3 probable cases, while Arizona has four confirmed infections, all linked to international travel in Navajo County.
Colorado has had 16 cases, with a major outbreak tied to a Turkish Airlines flight landing in Denver. Another unrelated case in Boulder County involved a fully vaccinated traveler returning from Europe.
- Measles in the Midwest and Beyond
Illinois reported eight cases in its southern region and two separate cases in Cook County. Iowa had six, with a household-based outbreak in Johnson County. Kansas jumped to 87 cases, most concentrated in Gray County.
In Kentucky, eight active cases are reported in Fayette and Woodford counties, while Michigan has documented 18 total cases, including outbreaks in Grand Traverse and Montcalm counties.
- Western States and Cross-Border Spread
Montana is facing its first outbreak in 35 years, with 25 cases, mostly in Gallatin County. Neighboring North Dakota recorded 34 cases, all in unvaccinated individuals. Alberta’s outbreak across the border is part of this wider trend.
Utah has nine cases, divided among three different clusters. Missouri confirmed seven infections, five of which are in one family in Cedar County.
- Cases Reported in Almost Every State
Measles cases have also been confirmed in Alaska, California, Florida, New York, Virginia, Washington, and more. Outbreaks in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have recently been declared over after weeks of no new cases.
The CDC reports a spike in imported cases, mostly among unvaccinated Americans returning from international travel.
- Vaccine Hesitancy and Declining Coverage
Measles is entirely preventable through the MMR vaccine, typically administered between 12–15 months and again at 4–6 years. Yet vaccination rates are dropping, driven by personal belief waivers and misinformation.
Herd immunity requires 95% coverage, but many communities are falling below that threshold.
- Symptoms and Treatment
The virus infects the respiratory tract first, causing fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and eventually a red, spreading rash. Severe complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and death.There’s no specific treatment — doctors focus on symptom relief and preventing complications. Prevention, experts say, remains the only reliable defense.
