Measles cases continue to grow, sparking debate among Americans on vaccines
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The infectious disease caused by the measles virus is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. It is so contagious, health experts say, 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to it wind up contracting measles.

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According to CDC data, one in five unvaccinated people people who contract the virus end up hospitalized. Measles is spread through contact with infected nasal or throat secretions, or by breathing in the virus after it's coughed, sneezed or sent into the air by an infected person, according to WHO. The measles virus can remain contagious in the air or on contaminated surfaces for up to two hours.

Priscilla Luna and her 3 year-old daughter Avery Dahl ,read a book about immunizations at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Cases of Measles are on the rise in West Texas as over 150 confirmed case have been seen with one confirmed death.

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An Austin Public Health truck is decorated with an advertisement encouraging vaccinations while parked outside the Austin Public Health office at the Bergstrom Technology Center in Austin, Feb. 28, 2025. Officials held a press conference to discuss a case of measles in Austin as well as encourage the public to check their vaccine status and get up-to-date on their vaccination against the virus.

Sara Diggins, American-Statesman Via USA TODAY NETWORK

A sign reading "measles testing" is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas on February 25, 2025.

Sebastian Rocandio, REUTERS

Mary Bussey and Penny Noyce, both retired healthcare professionals, marked their faces with red dots to represent Measles, during the "Stand Up for Science 2025" rally in Boston, Mass. on March 7, 2025.

Taylor Coester, REUTERS

An info-graphic on the measles virus is displayed during press conference at the Austin Public Health office at the Bergstrom Technology Center in Austin, Feb. 28, 2025. Officials held the press conference to discuss a case of measles in Austin as well as encourage the public to check their vaccine status and get up-to-date on their vaccination against the virus.

Sara Diggins, Austin American Statesman Via USA TODAY Network

Austin mayor Kirk Watson, second from right, is Travis County Judge Andy Brown, left, Austin Public Health Epidemiologist Flor-Hernandez-Ayala, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, and Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes as he speaks during press conference at the Austin Public Health office at the Bergstrom Technology Center in Austin, Feb. 28, 2025. Officials held the press conference to discuss a case of measles in Austin as well as encourage the public to check their vaccine status and get up-to-date on their vaccination against the virus.

Sara Diggins, American-Statesman Via USA TODAY Network

Matt Caldwell prepares a MMR vaccine at the City of Lubbock Health Department in Lubbock, Texas on February 27, 2025. Measles symptoms include fever and highly contagious respiratory symptoms.

Annie Rice, REUTERS

A person walks past a sign at a health center where the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine is administered in Lubbock, Texas, on February 27, 2025. Dozens of children are being rushed to a health center in the US state of Texas to get the measles vaccine, after the recent death in the area of a child who was not immunized against the highly contagious virus. The death came as immunization rates have declined nationwide, with the latest cases in the west Texas town of Lubbock concentrated in a Mennonite religious community that has historically shown vaccine hesitancy.

RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP Via Getty Images

A health worker prepares a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, on February 27, 2025. Dozens of children are being rushed to a health center in the US state of Texas to get the measles vaccine, after the recent death in the area of a child who was not immunized against the highly contagious virus. The death came as immunization rates have declined nationwide, with the latest cases in the west Texas town of Lubbock concentrated in a Mennonite religious community that has historically shown vaccine hesitancy.

RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP Via Getty Images
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