As concerns swirl over the rapidly growing measles outbreak in West Texas, other states are reporting cases of the deadly virus around the U.S.
So far, six states have cases, including New Mexico, Georgia, Alaska, New Jersey, and California.
Only one death — the first U.S. measles death since 2015 — has been confirmed. The outbreak is the worst in Texas where more than 120 people – mostly unvaccinated- have been stricken with the disease.
Measles, which can survive in the air for up to two hours, can cause serious illness.
While the virus was once considered to have been “eliminated,” outbreaks are occurring where vaccination rates have fallen.
Between 2020 and March 2024, there was a total of 338 measles cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 30 percent happened at the start of 2024.
Here’s where cases have cropped up this year:
Texas
Texas reported the first death in the West Texas outbreak on Wednesday. The school-aged child was not vaccinated, and was hospitalized in Lubbock last week and later died. The victim’s name has not been released.
As of Tuesday, 124 cases of measles have been confirmed in the state since late January. Eighteen people have been hospitalized.
The majority of cases have been in younger individuals between the ages of five and 17 years old.
The Texas Department of State Health Services had issued a health alert earlier in the week after a person with measles traveled between San Marcos and San Antonio, potentially exposing “tens to hundreds of thousands” of people, according to KSAT.
New Mexico
There have been nine cases of measles reported by the New Mexico Department of Health. The cases come following an outbreak in Lea County. The county is close to Gaines County, Texas, which is the area at the center of the Lone Star State’s outbreak.
However, New Mexico’s cases have “no known links to the Texas cases.”
New Jersey
New Jersey health authorities reported two additional measles cases this week. The cases were linked to a child in Bergen County who had recently traveled abroad.
“The two secondary cases of measles that have been identified were individuals with close contact to the original measles case. The individuals have been under quarantine, minimizing any additional potential exposures. At this time, there are no additional cases,” the state’s health department told The Independent in an email on Thursday.
All three of the patients were unvaccinated, according to WABC.
The state had announced the first case a little over a week ago, saying that anyone who had visited the Englewood Hospital Emergency Department may be at risk of developing the illness and should contact a healthcare provider immediately.
California
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said Tuesday that it had been notified of one case of measles in a non-Los Angeles County resident who traveled to Los Angeles International Airport.
The exposed individual is an infant, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
The person arrived on Korean Air flight KAL11/KE11 at the Tom Bradley Terminal on February 19. People in the area from approximately 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. PST may be at risk of developing measles dues to exposure, as well as those assigned to specific seats on the same flight. The passengers will be notified by their local health departments.
Georgia
The Georgia Department of Public Health said earlier this month that it had confirmed two additional measles cases in unvaccinated metro Atlanta residents, bringing the state total to three.
All of those infected were family members who were unvaccinated.
Alaska
A case of measles was recorded in January in an unvaccinated adult who had traveled overseas.
The individual is a resident of the Southern Kenai Peninsula. They were flying home on Alaska Air flight 228 from Seattle to Anchorage.
“The person sought care and was immediately isolated upon arrival at the South Peninsula Hospital Emergency Department on January 13; clinical specimens were obtained for measles testing,” the state said.
