Cases of measles in Kansas more than doubled last week, bringing Tally to 20, while another epidemic in Ohio has become ill 10 people, local public health officials said on Wednesday.
There have been several large outbreaks in the United States this year, including one in western Texas that has spread to more than 320 people and was hospitalized 40.
More than 40 cases of measles have been reported in New Mexico and seven have been found in Oklahoma. In both states, healthcare officials said infections were linked to the outburst of Texas.
In Kansas, the virus has mainly contaminated non -vaccinated children in the southwest corner of the state. The genetic sequence proposed a link to Texas and New Mexico’s outbreaks, state health officials told the New York Times on Wednesday.
Fourteen other states have reported isolated cases of measles in 2025, most often the outcome of international trips. In Ohio, nine of the 10 cases were found in a non -vaccinated man who recently traveled abroad.
“Taking into account the measles activity in Texas, the new Mexico and other states across the country, we are disappointed but we are not surprised that we now have enough cases here in Ohio,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ministry of Health of the State.
Experts are afraid that reduced vaccination rates at national level have left the country vulnerable to rejuvenating diseases that can be prevented, including measles.
Just below 93 % of children in kindergarten had the measles, mumps and erythrades vaccine in the school year 2023-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts recommend that at least 95 % of people be vaccinated in a community in order to avoid homes.
In Kansas, about 90 percent of kindergarteners received the MMR that shot during the school year 2023-24, according to state data.
About 89 percent of kindergarten in Ohio had the MMR shot that year.
Measles, which spreads when breathing an infected person, coughing or sneezing, is one of the most contagious known viruses.
Within a few weeks of the exposure, those infected can develop high fever, cough, nasal nose and red, watery eyes. Within a few days, an exhaustive rash breaks out, first as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads under the neck and torso to the rest of the body
In most cases, these symptoms are resolved in a few weeks. But in rare cases, the virus causes pneumonia, making it difficult for patients, especially children, to pump oxygen to their lungs.
Infection can also lead to brain edema, which can cause constant damage, including blindness, deafness and mental disabilities. For every 1,000 children contracting measles, one or two will die, according to CDC
A child has died in the Texas epidemic, the first such death in the United States in a decade. A suspicious measles death also referred to New Mexico.
