Dear Residents,
As of April 3, 2025, a total of 607 confirmed measles cases have been reported across 22 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can also spread through contact with an infected person’s saliva or mucus and can survive in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
Symptoms of measles typically include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a rash that usually appears 3 to 5 days after symptoms begin. Measles primarily affects the respiratory tract before spreading throughout the body. It can lead to severe illness, complications, and even death. While anyone can get measles, it is most common in children.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles and stop its spread. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is safe and helps your body build protection against the virus. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, while a single dose is 93% effective. It is rare for fully vaccinated individuals to contract measles. However, breakthrough infections can occur, especially in communities experiencing outbreaks where the virus is widely circulating.
If you have any questions/concerns regarding measles, please contact your healthcare provider.
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Take care and be well,
NWBRHC Staff
