ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — The Rockland County Department of Health on Wednesday warned New York residents about a recent spike in the number of measles cases across the United States, with reported infections in New York City and New Jersey this year.
As of Feb. 20, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a total of 93 measles cases were reported across Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, NYC, Rhode Island and Texas in 2025. One-fourth of those infected were hospitalized.
Most cases developed in people who were not vaccinated, and the rest were in people who weren’t fully vaccinated. Anyone not protected through past infection or vaccination is at risk of getting measles, but two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing the disease.
There have been no reported cases in Rockland County, health officials said.
“Springtime increases the likelihood of coming in contact with measles and for outbreaks to occur given increased travel both locally and internationally,” director of TB and communicable disease control Dr. Chitra Punjabi said.
Punjabi encouraged residents speak with their healthcare provider about their measles vaccination status and keep children protected by making sure their vaccinations are up to date.
An unvaccinated school-age child who was hospitalized in West Texas last week for measles died overnight, the Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday.
The death comes amid a measles outbreak in the rural area that reached 124 cases across nine counties on Tuesday, and marks the first measles death in the U.S. since 2015.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on Earth with 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus becoming infected, health officials said. Symptoms include fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose.
Children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to measles complications, though it can be severe in all age groups.