Dear Residents,
As spring travel approaches, NWBRHC would like to remind residents to stay up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations. Although vaccines for many infectious diseases are available worldwide, cases of vaccine-preventable diseases have been increasing in recent years.
Measles cases in the U.S. are often linked to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals who travel abroad and bring the disease back, spreading it to others who are not vaccinated. As of March 6, 2025, there have been 222 reported cases of measles in the following 12 U.S. states:
Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington.
Many of these cases—201 out of 222—have been in New Mexico and Texas. Most of the cases are in children who have not received the MMR vaccine. There have been three measles outbreaks so far this year, with 93% of cases linked to these outbreaks (Centers for Disease Control, 2025). For comparison, in 2024, 16 outbreaks were reported, and 69% of cases were outbreak-related (Centers for Disease Control, 2025).
Measles is spread when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes, releasing the virus into the air. It can also spread through contact with an infected person’s saliva or mucus. The virus can survive on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a rash (which usually appears 3-5 days after symptoms begin).
Recommendations for Travelers:
- If you are planning to travel to a place with a measles outbreak, talk to your doctor about getting the MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer better protection (97%) than only one dose (93%) (CDC, 2025).
- Check the CDC’s Global Measles Travel Health Notice for travel advice
- After traveling to an area with an ongoing outbreak, watch for measles symptoms. These symptoms include rash and high fever for up to 3 weeks after returning. If you or your child show symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.
You can find more information below:
