United States: North Dakota has now joined ten other US states amidst a growing measles resurgence, reporting its first confirmed cases in over a decade.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now counts 935 confirmed infections across the nation — over threefold the tally recorded in 2024. Texas remains the hotbed, with 702 documented infections as of Tuesday, igniting parallel outbreaks in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
In West Texas — the nucleus of the crisis — two unvaccinated children in elementary school tragically succumbed to measles-linked complications. Meanwhile, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico also perished, according to CBS News.
Other states battling clusters — defined by the CDC as three or more interrelated cases — include Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
CBS News’ data division remains actively monitoring nationwide figures, pulling from CDC records and state health departments.
Beyond US borders, North America grapples with two other sweeping flare-ups: Ontario, Canada has amassed 1,243 infections since mid-October, and Mexico’s Chihuahua state has counted 922 cases and one fatality. Authorities in both nations confirm all outbreaks share the same strain.
Measles, a virulent airborne disease, is transmitted through respiratory droplets and is fully preventable through immunization. Though declared eliminated in the US in 2000, it has re-emerged in undervaccinated enclaves, causing experts to fear prolonged transmission.
Three additional measles cases in unvaccinated individuals in Williams County have been confirmed bringing ND's total to 4 cases in 2025. All three are known contacts of the first case and are isolating to avoid spreading measles to others.
— ND Health and Human Services (@hhsndgov) May 5, 2025
Updates: https://t.co/YqTBOwOJCV pic.twitter.com/tShcs2ME8s
In Texas alone, health officials confirmed 19 additional cases since Friday, lifting the cumulative total to 702 across 29 counties — primarily clustered in the western part of the state. Hospitalizations rose to 91.
Only around 1 percent of active Texas cases — fewer than 10 — are currently contagious.
Over half of the state’s infections (403 cases) are concentrated in Gaines County, home to a tightly-knit Mennonite community with notably low vaccine uptake. That accounts for about 1.7 percent of the county’s 22,892 residents, as reported by CBS News.
The first pediatric death in Texas was an 8-year-old, reportedly healthy child who died of measles-related pulmonary failure on April 3. A separate child, age 6, also unvaccinated and previously healthy, passed away in late February.
New Mexico holds steady at 67 cases. Of those, seven people required hospitalization. The majority stem from Lea County, with a handful in Eddy, Doña Ana, and Chaves counties.
Indiana’s outbreak ticked upward on April 21 with two new infections in Allen County, bringing its total to eight. Five are children with no vaccination history; the rest are adults with undetermined immunization status. No direct tie to other clusters has been identified.
Kansas added nine cases last Wednesday, bringing its total to 46 across eight southwestern counties. Gray County alone has 15 infections. One person has been hospitalized. Discrepancies between county and state case counts have been chalked up to evolving data.
The first Kansas case has been genetically linked to the Texas surge.
Montcalm County in western Michigan hosts four connected infections, tied to the Ontario outbreak. Michigan’s total confirmed cases stand at nine.
Montana logged its first measles cases in 35 years on April 17 — five in total — all in unvaccinated individuals who had traveled out of state. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County. Officials haven’t confirmed links to other outbreaks.
Dr. Paul Carson, professor emeritus from North Dakota State University, says there are parts of North Dakota where as many as a quarter of kindergartners aren't vaccinated against measles. https://t.co/Cy6DBmM4jq
— InForum (@inforum) May 5, 2025
North Dakota reported its first infection since 2011 last Friday. By Monday, three more linked cases had emerged in Williams County, meeting the CDC threshold for an outbreak. The index case is believed to stem from an unvaccinated child who contracted the virus from an out-of-state visitor. Officials have remained silent on further inquiries, according to the reports by CBS News.
Ohio currently grapples with two concurrent outbreaks — 16 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland and 20 in Knox County. Of those, 14 are Ohioans and six are visitors. The Ohio Department of Health lists 33 resident cases and one hospitalization.
Elsewhere in the state, Defiance County just reported its first case, and Allen and Holmes counties have each logged one.
Oklahoma’s total is now 14 confirmed and three probable cases, linked back to Texas and New Mexico. The state hasn’t specified affected counties, though Cleveland, Oklahoma, and Sequoyah counties have previously reported public exposure events.
In Pennsylvania, Erie County has declared an outbreak with eight cases. The broader state has 13 total infections in 2025, including international-travel-related cases in Montgomery County and Philadelphia.
Tennessee is dealing with six confirmed infections, primarily in the central region. At least three are connected, though health officials haven’t detailed the linkage or timeline. The first case was flagged March 21, followed by more in early and mid-April. The CDC has listed Tennessee as an outbreak zone since April 17.
Scattered cases have also emerged in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
The root of many outbreaks can be traced to travelers returning from abroad. In 2019, the US nearly lost its measles elimination status amid a spike to 1,274 cases.
The most effective guard against infection remains the MMR vaccine. Children are advised to receive the first dose between 12–15 months, and the second between ages 4–6.
Additional MMR doses pose no risk, even for those uncertain about immunity. Those vaccinated with the less effective “killed” virus before 1968 should receive at least one live-virus dose. Individuals born before 1957 typically retain natural immunity.
In communities with immunization rates exceeding 95 percent, measles transmission is significantly hindered — a phenomenon known as herd immunity. However, vaccination rates have declined post-pandemic, with many parents citing personal or religious objections. A 2024 Chicago outbreak saw over 60 infections, according to CBS News.
The disease first strikes the respiratory tract, then invades the body, manifesting as high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash.
This rash, typically surfacing three to five days after initial symptoms, begins as flat red spots on the face before cascading downward across the body. Fever can surge above 104°F at this stage.
While most recover fully, measles can spark severe complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, or even death.
No targeted cure exists. Treatment focuses on easing symptoms and forestalling complications — making prevention all the more critical.