Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known to science – more contagious than Ebola, smallpox or COVID-19. Declining vaccination rates over the past few years, plus a recent outbreak in West Texas, have public health experts concerned. Here's what to know about the science of this virus — plus how to protect against it. For the latest, host Regina G. Barber talks to NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy.Interested in other stories about public health? Tell us what you want to hear about by emailing [email protected]!Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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Hey, Shore Wavers, Regina Barber here. And in the past few weeks, one of the things that's been all over the news is the measles outbreak.
This morning, new numbers show the measles virus spreading like wildfire. There doesn't seem to be any slowdown in the growing measles epidemic. The growing measles outbreak in the southwestern United States claimed a second life this Fifteen states across the U.S. are now reporting cases. The numbers continue to grow. How close to containing this spread are authorities?
What's their plan? This outbreak started in West Texas in January and spread across state borders into New Mexico. As of last Friday, there were nearly 300 confirmed cases reported. That surpasses the total measles infections reported in the U.S. in all of 2024. That number is expected to increase when new numbers are released Tuesday. And there have been cases reported in other states as well.
Like I've heard of cases as far away as Alaska, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
Although just to clarify, Gina, those cases have been tied to international travel and not to the Texas outbreak.
Right. And you're here to help us like make sense of all this. Hey, Maria. Hi, Regina. You're a health and science correspondent for NPR. So I know you've been keeping track of all of this, including the nuances between these like individual cases versus the outbreak in Texas. So what is the difference there?
So every year, the U.S. reports cases of measles. Even though the disease was declared eliminated here in 2000, that just means there wasn't sustained transmission in the country for at least a 12-month period. But, you know, measles is still a big problem globally. So an unvaccinated person or child who travels to a country where measles is spreading can bring the virus back home.
You mentioned Alaska. That was a case where an unvaccinated adult had traveled abroad. And there were also cases in Maryland and Kentucky involving people who were returning from international travel.
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