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During the first three months of 2025 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has detected 378 cases of measles, a 33% increase compared to 285 total cases in 2024.
While there are no recorded cases in Nebraska yet, experts worry about a potential spread coming off the spring break travel season.
Eighteen states have reported cases. Ten cases have been detected in the neighboring state of Kansas, all in children under 17. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday said nine of the children were unvaccinated, and only one received the first dose of the MMR vaccine.
Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, Chief Medical Officer at CHI Health and Chief of the Infectious Disease Division at Creighton University, said in a Tuesday media Q&A that vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of measles.
“When you're not vaccinated, you don't have that immunity,” Vivekanandan said.
Vivekanandan said travel poses potential risks, and travelers should check on outbreak areas and follow CDC guidance.
“Travel does put us at risk,” Vivekanandan said. “Because it's an easily contagious viral infection, it can spread, so we have to be vigilant after the spring break for any exposure.”
Vivekanandan urges people to get vaccinated and keep their children’s vaccines up to date. She also said to contact your primary care provider about potential infections with any concerns.
“I think the first thing will be to call and talk to your primary care provider,” Vivekanandan said. “If you're critically ill, definitely give the health system a call, ‘I think I have measles. I'm coming into the urgent care,' so that they could make sure to get your room immediately and make sure we see you safely.”
Measles symptoms typically begin to show 7-14 days after infection. The first symptoms may include a cough, runny nose, high fever and red/watery eyes. After symptoms start, tiny, white spots in the mouth may appear, and a rash may develop.
Unvaccinated people are most at risk for measles, especially children under 5, pregnant people and those with compromised immune systems. Measles can cause hospitalization and pneumonia, with higher rates in unvaccinated people. Swelling of the brain, pregnancy complications or death can also occur in rare cases.
About 75% of this year’s measles cases are in those 19 and younger. Children under five are more likely to be hospitalized, especially if they are not vaccinated.
Vivekanandan said higher cases are due to lower vaccination rates in many areas across the country, opening up the potential for spread.
“Recently, we're seeing lower vaccine rates, so that's where we have some opportunity,” Vivekanandan said.
Vaccine coverage for kindergarteners across the U.S. dropped just under 93% during the 2023-2024 school year, declining from 95% coverage in the 2019-2020 school year. The CDC warns that clusters of unvaccinated children can lead to outbreaks in schools.
About 94% of Nebraskan children have received both doses of their MMR vaccine, though that rate has dropped two points in recent years with the national average.
The drop in vaccination rates could correlate with the rise in vaccine exemptions for school children. An October 2024 report from the CDC said that 3.3% of kindergarteners had a vaccine exemption in the last school year, 3.1% of which were non-medical. In the 2022-2023 school year, 3% of kindergarteners were exempted.
This year, the CDC reported one death in the state of Texas, with one more under investigation in New Mexico. The last measles-related death in the U.S. was in 2015.