...
By Jasmine Laws
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Tennessee has confirmed its first case of measles for this year amid the outbreak of the virus that has hit a number of states across the country.
The Tennessee Department of Health said on Friday that a resident in Middle Tennessee tested positive after being infected in early March and is currently recovering at home.
Why It Matters
Measles, a highly contagious virus that can be deadly, was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning there was no continuous transmission of the virus within the country, and new cases were primarily linked to international travel. However, recent years have seen a resurgence in cases and outbreaks, mainly due to declining vaccination rates.
Read More on News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 95 percent of the confirmed cases in 2025 involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
What To Know
As of March 20, a total of 378 confirmed measles cases had been reported across 18 states, including Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington, as shown in the map above.
The number of cases this year has already surpassed the number of cases recorded for the entirety of last year, when there were 285 cases reported for all of 2024 across 33 states, according to the CDC.
The CDC noted that 90 percent of the 2025 cases were linked to three reported outbreaks — defined as three or more related cases.
The largest cluster was reported in Texas, where, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, a total of 309 measles cases have been reported as of March 21 since late January, concentrated in the South Plains and Panhandle regions.
The outbreak in Texas has primarily affected unvaccinated individuals, particularly within the Mennonite community in West Texas.
The CDC reported that 64 measles patients, which equates to 17 percent of all cases, have been hospitalized in 2025, with the highest hospitalization rate among children under 5 years old, at 27 percent.
Two measles-related deaths have also been reported in 2025 — one was a school-aged child in Texas and one was in New Mexico, which is under investigation.
The last confirmed measles-related death in the U.S. before 2025 occurred in 2015.
...
Measles spreads through respiratory droplets and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room, according to the CDC.
The disease can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death, especially in children under five years old.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been criticized for his anti-vaccine views, voiced support for the MMR vaccine amid the measles outbreak.
In a statement on March 3, Kennedy called the measles outbreak a "call to action," saying: "The MMR vaccine is crucial to avoiding potentially deadly disease...Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons."
What People Are Saying
Texas Department of State Health Services wrote in an update on the outbreak: "Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak."
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in an update at the end of last month: "As a pediatrician and the State's doctor, I want to remind everyone that immunization is safe and the best protection for your children against measles and other potentially deadly diseases."
Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County Health Officer, said in a news update earlier this month: "With measles outbreaks happening both in the United States and internationally, this recent case in our county highlights how important it is for anyone who has not been immunized to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine."
Kenneth Moritsugu, former U.S. acting surgeon general, wrote in an opinion piece for Newsweek after the first death was reported in Texas: "Unfortunately, childhood vaccination rates have been declining, including for the MMR vaccine. This measles death could portend more to come without clear government communication about the safety and efficacy of vaccines."
Margaret Quinn, a clinical professor at the Rutgers Health School of Nursing, New Jersey, told Newsweek she was "very concerned" about the outbreak. "Whenever there is an outbreak of a contagious disease, we all need to be vigilant. Our communities can be at risk, so it is important to stay on top of any outbreaks across the country," she said.
"Providing accurate and reliable information about vaccination safety and schedules for children is crucial."
What Happens Next
The CDC has said doctors and public health officials should be vigilant for patients that show symptoms of measles, such as fever and rash.
Update 03/25/25, 10:23 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Margaret Quinn.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines