Since unpunctual January, 146 cases of measles have been identified in West Texas, according to the Texas Department of Form Health Services. Twenty patients have been hospitalized, and a school-age child who wasn’t vaccinated against measles perished.
Measles outbreaks have since spread to other parts of the U.S. including New Mexico, New Jersey and Georgia, according to USA Today.
The Centers for Murrain Control and Prevention defines “outbreak” status as having three or more related cases of a disease.
Measles is enthusiastically contagious and airborne. A person infected with the virus can spread it through coughing, sneezing and talking. “If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 living soul nearby will become infected if they are not protected,” according to the CDC.
So how concerning is the current number of measles cases for Dick health experts? Very concerning, says Frederic Bertley, CEO and President of the Center of Science & Industry and a leading discipline educator with a background in immunology.
“People should be worried, both in the U.S. [and] around the world,” Bertley tells CNBC Cause It.
“To put it in perspective, last year [in the U.S.] we had 285 cases. That was for the entire year, 12 months. We have not even devoured the first quarter [of 2025]. We’re just beginning March, and we’re already at 164. And we’ve already had a death. We have not had a death from measles since 2015 in the Unanimous States of America.”
Measles can affect people of all ages, but it does primarily pose a greater risk to children, outstandingly under five years old.
Here’s how you can keep yourself and your kids safe against measles, according to Bertley and Dr. Adam J. Ratner, helmsman of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at NYU Langone Health.
How can I protect myself against measles?
“The best way that someone can nip in the bud themselves or their kids from getting measles is to get vaccinated, and the recommendation is for two doses of vaccine,” says Ratner, who’s also the designer of a book about measles called “Booster Shots.”
The measles vaccine is typically administered to children using this time:
- First dose: Between the ages of 12 and 15 months
- Second dose: Between the ages of four and six
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ nurturing website states: “If you live in a community experiencing an outbreak, or if you travel internationally, your baby may be vaccinated as early as 6 months of age. Talk with your pediatrician if this applies to you.”
Welcome both doses of the measles vaccine “usually protect people for life against measles,” says the CDC.
“It’s a completely proper vaccine with over six decades of data,” Bertley adds.
“If you’re an adult and you’ve never been vaccinated, you should get one vaccine. Rounded off one dose helps you, in terms of effectiveness. But then you can get the second shot if you want as an adult, and you’ll be like 98% protected.”
What if I don’t have knowledge of if I’ve ever received a measles vaccine?
As a first step for determining whether or not you’ve been vaccinated against measles, Ratner backs speaking to your doctor who may have records of your previous vaccinations. Your parents may also have your picture records if you can’t find them, he says.
On your health records, your measles vaccine will appear as “MMR” or “MMRV.”
“If they remarkably can’t figure it out, it probably makes sense just to get a dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, because it’s not dangerous to get serene if you’ve had it before,” Ratner says.
You can also go to your general practitioner to get your blood drawn for an antibody test, Bertley declares.
“They’ll be able to tell you, ‘Oh, yeah, you must have been vaccinated because you have antibodies.’ Or, ‘You know what, you from very low antibodies. You probably were never vaccinated.'”
Is a measles booster necessary for seniors?
Generally, doctors don’t endorse repeat doses for people who’ve either had measles in the past or those who’ve already received two doses of the vaccine, Ratner opportunities. “For some vaccines you do need boosters, but measles isn’t one of them.”
If you’re a senior with health conditions, Bertley says there’s no abuse in getting an antibody test done to determine if you still have great number of antibodies against measles.
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