TRACKING EMERGING VIRUSES –August 16, 2025 – MEASLES
“More than 10,000 (measles) cases, 18 of them fatal, have been reported across 10 countries in the Americas this year, with the pace of infections 34 times higher than a year ago, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said today, urging countries to step up their vaccination, surveillance, and outbreak responses.
In a news release, PAHO said the outbreaks are mainly linked to low vaccination coverage, with 89% of cases occurring in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. Though the region saw a slight rise in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage from 2023 to 2024, at 89% for the first dose and 79% for the second dose, the levels are still below the 95% level recommended to prevent outbreaks.” (1)
“The measles outbreak in Texas has slowed “dramatically” in recent weeks, but experts still expect the virus to continue to spread.
“We’re very pleased to see this trend and optimistic about the trend going forward,” said Dr. Varun Shetty, the state’s chief epidemiologist, during a meeting of the state’s Public Health Funding and Policy Committee on August 13.
But, Shetty warned, Texas isn’t in the clear yet.
“We do expect to see additional cases in the future,” Shetty said.”
So far, there have been 762 confirmed cases in the Texas outbreak. The most impacted group, Shetty said, is school-age children, with 286 cases in those between the ages of 5 and 17. The outbreak started in Gaines County, where more than half of the cases were recorded. There have been four cases identified in Tarrant County, according to Tarrant County Public Health.” (2)
“Health officials confirmed a new case of measles Monday. A child who has been hospitalized is the state’s 17th case of the virus.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Adams County Health Department confirmed the case in a child younger than 5 years old from Adams County, according to a press release. The child remains hospitalized.
They had not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. They traveled with family to Chihuahua, Mexico, where there is an ongoing measles outbreak.” (3)
Longitudinal Extensive Myelitis After Measles in a Behçet’s Disease Patient: Post-infectious Trigger or Neuro-Behçet? https://www.cureus.com/articles/389317-longitudinal-extensive-myelitis-after-measles-in-a-behets-disease-patient-post-infectious-trigger-or-neuro-behet
1.Measles surge continues in Americas, with outbreaks in 10 nations, by Lisa Schnirring, https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/measles-surge-continues-americas-outbreaks-10-nations
2. Measles in Texas has ‘decreased dramatically,’ but virus continues to spread, by Ciara McCarthy, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-measles-texas-decreased-virus.html
3.Unvaccinated child hospitalized is state’s 17th measles case this year, By John Daley, https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/unvaccinated-child-hospitalized-is-states-17th-measles-case-this-year/
curated by Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.
Clinical Professor of Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai