Measles outbreak spreads amid vaccine fears: The Guardian

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
23 Mar 2025 18:21

The virus is appearing in Ohio, Maryland, and Kansas, with some cases linked to international travel.

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Jennifer Sanchez wipes the face of her son Saul Escamilla, 1, after she got vaccine appointments for her children at the Ector County Health Department Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Odessa, Texas. (AP)

The Guardian on Sunday reported that a growing measles outbreak in Texas has surpassed last year's national case count, with 309 confirmed infections, 40 hospitalizations, and one death—a six-year-old unvaccinated girl. The outbreak has now spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and several other states, fueled by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Health officials warn the outbreak could continue for a year. "I never thought in 2025, we would be looking at this resurgence of measles," said Katherine Wells, director of Lubbock Public Health. "And I didn't know it'd be in my backyard, either."

The girl's parents, speaking in a video with Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group formerly led by Robert F Kennedy Jr., rejected the MMR vaccine. "We would absolutely not take the MMR," said her mother. "The measles wasn't that bad. They got over it." Her father added, "It's not as bad as the media is making it out to be."

Kennedy has avoided recommending vaccines during the outbreak, instead promoting alternative treatments and suggesting the child may have been unhealthy—despite reports showing she had no underlying conditions.

Measles resurgence

The virus is also appearing in Ohio, Maryland, and Kansas, with some cases linked to international travel. Measles has now been confirmed in over a dozen states.

"Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world," said Lucia Donatelli of Maryland's Center for Immunization. "And the best way that we have to prevent measles is by vaccination."

Health departments have launched free vaccine clinics, but turnout remains low. "There's a lot of vaccine hesitancy in Gaines County," Wells noted.

"It's going to take a lot of time to change the perception of vaccines, get people vaccinated, and then get to a point where there won't be any vulnerable people left for measles to find."

Officials urge those exposed to measles to call ahead before seeking care to prevent further spread.