Lou Portero

Urban Health Today

The United States is facing renewed concerns about rising measles cases, with outbreaks notably severe in West Texas and New Mexico. According to recent reporting by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/health/measles-outbreak-map.html">The New York Times</a>, more than 290 people have been infected across these regions, largely among unvaccinated school-age children. Tragically, one unvaccinated young child in Texas died, marking the first measles-related death in the U.S. in a decade. The outbreak began in Gaines County, Texas, where vaccination rates have historically been low.<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/texas-measles-outbreak-hits-259-just-2-cases-among-fully-vaccinated/ar-AA1AWlVe?ocid=BingNewsSerp">ABC News</a>&nbsp;further underscores the seriousness of the situation, noting that Texas alone has confirmed 259 cases, with children aged 5 to 17 accounting for the majority. Hospitalizations have reached 34 cases, with another death under investigation in New Mexico. Both reports highlight that measles remains highly contagious, capable of infecting nine out of ten susceptible individuals exposed.Amidst this outbreak, pediatricians nationwide are seeing an increase in requests from parents wanting to vaccinate their children ahead of the CDC-recommended schedule, as reported in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/17/metro/measles-outbreak-early-vax-vaccine-kids/">The Boston Globe</a>. Dr. Brenda Anders Pring, president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted an increase in calls from concerned families seeking early vaccinations, driven by fears stemming from recent measles cases and fatalities. While the CDC recommends vaccinations between 12-15 months for the first dose and 4-6 years for the second, doctors are accommodating early requests for families traveling to high-risk areas or living in regions affected by outbreaks.Despite increased parental concerns, medical experts like Dr. Vandana Madhavan from Mass General Hospital for Children suggest sticking to the recommended schedule unless there&rsquo;s an imminent exposure risk. Early vaccination between 6 and 11 months can provide temporary protection but doesn&rsquo;t count toward the standard two-dose vaccine series.With declining immunization rates nationally threatening the elimination status of measles declared in 2000, health officials emphasize reinforcing public awareness and vaccination efforts, particularly in outbreak-prone regions.

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Reports highlight that measles remains highly contagious, capable of infecting nine out of ten susceptible individuals exposed

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