Currently, health officials are warning people about a growing outbreak of Measles across the US as cases continue to grow in several states. The highly contagious virus, once considered eradicated in the country, has returned in several communities, raising concerns among public health experts.
- Michigan reported a measles outbreak in 2025, the first one since 2019.
- Health officials warned that the disease spreads easily and vaccination is the best protection.
- Local health departments in Washtenaw County have warned that even one case could close schools in the area because of how contagious this disease is.
The Center for Disease Control states, the MMR vaccine protects against three very contagious diseases: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. It is usually given to children in two doses, the first at around 12-15 months old and the second at around 4 – 6 years old. Health experts say the vaccine is highly effective at preventing these kinds of outbreaks because two doses provide about 98% protection. Schools in the United States usually ask for proof of the MMR vaccination for students to attend in person, but in some cases certain states allow medical or religious exceptions.
Measles is commonly spread through coughing and sneezing and can infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to it. Symptoms usually include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash, but the disease can also cause very serious complications such as pneumonia or even lead to brain swelling.
Experts are saying that declining vaccination rates are a big reason for the outbreak. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective and helps prevent the disease from spreading to another. In recent years, there has been an influx of families choosing not to vaccinate their children due to many reasons including religious beliefs, concern of side effects, and even mistrust of medical professionals according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
The NIH claims that some attribute the decrease in vaccinations due to misinformation on social media. Refusing to vaccinate can cause eradicated diseases to resurface as herd immunity is reduced. When herd immunity declines, vulnerable populations are more at risk of contracting diseases. This not only puts vulnerable populations at risk of serious health complications, but also puts a strain on the medical community as claimed by the UK’s National Health Service.
Dr. Marquez, a local doctor from the Washtenaw County Health Department commented on the public risk of the disease:
“Unfortunately, we expect to see additional cases in exposed, unvaccinated individuals, as measles is very contagious,” says Juan Luis Marquez, MD, MPH, medical director with Washtenaw County Health Department. “We urge people to protect themselves and their families with MMR vaccination if they haven’t already.”
Public health officials are encouraging people, especially parents of infants and young children, to make sure their vaccinations are up to date in order to slow the outbreak and protect people and communities.
