Measles Cases Rise in Texas as DC Confirms New Case

As of March 25, Texas has seen 327 confirmed measles cases.

A sign outside of Seminole Hospital District offering measles testing, in Seminole, Texas, on Feb. 21, 2025. Julio Cortez/AP Photo

A recent surge in measles cases across the United States has prompted investigations by health officials in multiple states, with Texas reporting a significant increase and Washington, D.C. confirming a new case.

As of March 25, Texas has seen 327 confirmed measles cases, primarily in the South Plains and Panhandle regions, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services in an update.

Meanwhile, in the nation’s capital, a single case was confirmed on Tuesday, prompting local health officials to issue a warning to those who may have been exposed.

The D.C. Department of Health said the person visited multiple locations while contagious, including the Amtrak Northeast Regional 175 Train Southbound, the Amtrak Concourse at Union Station, and MedStar Urgent Care in Adams Morgan. Health officials are urging anyone who may have been exposed to monitor their health and seek medical attention if symptoms arise.

As of Tuesday, Texas has seen 40 hospitalizations and one fatality recorded, according to the latest report. The one reported death comes from a deceased child who was unvaccinated and had no underlying health conditions. Local health officials say they have been working to identify the origin of the disease and stop the spread.

The measles virus is highly contagious and can spread easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear in two stages: an initial phase with fever, runny nose, and cough, followed by a rash that spreads across the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after it develops.

Health officials both in D.C. and Texas emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provide nearly complete protection against the virus.

In D.C., individuals who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine or were born before 1957 are considered protected. Health officials advised that those who have received only one dose or are unvaccinated should receive their second vaccination shot or monitor their health closely if exposed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also urged unvaccinated individuals to receive their shot ahead of the approaching travel season.

“With spring and summer travel season approaching in the United States, CDC emphasizes the important role that clinicians and public health officials play in preventing the spread of measles through vaccination,” the agency noted in a recent statement.

The CDC also said that one dose of the measles vaccine is about 93 percent effective, while two doses provide 97 percent protection.

From NTD News