The United States is seeing a significant resurgence of measles cases in 2025. Currently, there have been over 300 confirmed cases (Webb, 2025). At this time last year there were only 64 cases. The majority of measles cases have occurred in Texas. However, 15 states are currently affected, and just this past week Michigan has confirmed its first case. The positive case occurred in Oakland County, Michigan. The infected person in Michigan had recently traveled overseas and their vaccination status is not known (Stebbins, 2025).

Measles is a highly contagious acute viral illness. It is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. Infected people are contagious four days prior to the typical measles rash presentation and then four days after the rash presents. After an infected person leaves a location, the virus remains viable for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air (CDC, 2014).

Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in the year 2000 (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), 2025). This was due largely to the effective MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine that has been available in the United States since 1963 (CDC, 2014).

Unlike the United States, other countries have been less fortunate to have access to the MMR vaccine. Global prevalence of measles remains high in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia (CDC, 2025).

Symptoms for measles usually present within 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure (Stebbins, 2025). Symptoms include:

Severe health complications can occur, including pneumonia, encephalitis and death (American College Health Association (ACHA), 2015). One rare long-term consequence of the measles virus infection is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), this is a fatal disease of the central nervous system that develops 7-10 years after infection. It is estimated that 4-11 cases/100,000 cases of measles have a risk of developing into SSPE (CDC, 2014).

Immunizations are the key to preventing measles and other outbreaks. Immunizations offer safe and effective protection from vaccine preventable diseases. The U.S. is experiencing
re-emergence of these diseases, in part due to factors such as un-immunized and under-immunized persons and global travel (CDC, 2014).

The measles virus is one of the most infectious diseases known. Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine, which is a series of two vaccines. If you are wondering if you have already had the vaccine, the Jackson College Health Clinic can look up your immunization record. If for any reason we are unable to access your immunization record and you are wondering where your immunity stands against measles, we can do a titer to determine if you are immune or not. The titer is a blood draw and will test your immunity level to measles, mumps and rubella.

View a MMR vaccine information sheet.