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There have been three outbreaks of measles reported so far in 2025, and 93% of cases (153 of 164) are outbreak-associated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated. Fortunately, there is one simple way to protect your children – by getting them vaccinated, says Azfar Chak, M.D., chief of infectious disease at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
There are several possible reasons for the increase in cases, according to Dr. Chak. “One reason is that there may have been a lapse of vaccinations among children during the pandemic,” he said. “There has also been an increase in people traveling to different countries in the last several years, including to parts of the world where there is a surge of measles.”
Even if your family does not travel internationally, you could encounter measles in your community. This most commonly happens when people who live in the United States visit countries where there are measles outbreaks. Once someone gets measles and returns to America, measles can spread if people in their community aren’t up to date on their vaccinations.
Measles Basics
Measles is very contagious and can be serious. It can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age.
According to the CDC, about one in five people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized. One out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage.
Common measles symptoms include:
• high fever (may spike to more than 104° F),
• cough
• inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose that leads to a runny nose and congestion
• red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin)
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around them will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing they have the disease—from four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.
If you think you may have been exposed to measles, immediately call your healthcare provider and let them know. Your healthcare provider can determine if you are immune to measles based on your vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence. They can make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk.
Vaccination Provides Protection
The best protection against measles is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.
The CDC says your child needs two doses of MMR vaccine for best protection:
• The first dose at 12 through 15 months of age
• The second dose at 4 through 6 years of age
If your family is traveling overseas, consult your pediatrician about vaccination recommendations.
“If your child hasn’t completed their MMR vaccination, talk to your pediatrician,” Dr. Chak. “It’s not too late to make it up and protect your child against measles.”
