2025 Measles Information Sheet

On Wednesday, February 26, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced the first fatality due to measles in the United States since 2015 – stemming from an outbreak in West Texas with 146 confirmed cases.

Measles, an extremely infectious respiratory disease, can be spread through direct interaction with contagious droplets or via airborne transmission. Its high rate of infection has led to a proliferation across multiple West Texas counties and into eastern New Mexico.

As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a single infected individual has the potential to transmit measles to up to nine out of 10 people in close proximity. In 2000, measles was officially declared eradicated in the United States, although it continues to be frequently imported from other nations.

As of February 27, the CDC has documented a total of 164 measles cases across nine regions, including Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas.

Dr. George Rust, the head of Florida State University’s Center for Medicine and Public Health, is a noted public health scholar. He also holds the position of medical director for six local county public health departments. Last year, Dr. Rust utilized his expertise during a minor measles outbreak that occurred in an elementary school in Broward County, Florida.

Dr. Rust has developed a 2025 information sheet addressing key inquiries regarding measles, available to the general public.

For media inquiries about the recent measles outbreak, Dr. Rust can be contacted at [email protected].

The article Florida State University expert available for interviews on measles outbreak was first published on Florida State University News.