The United States is experiencing a significant measles resurgence. With over 1,000 cases reported so far this year, 2025 is on track to have the highest number of measles cases since the early 1990s. Given an ongoing outbreak in Texas and multiple smaller outbreaks across the country, now’s the time to make sure that you and the people you love are fully protected.
Most people didn’t grow up in a time when measles was common, so it’s understandable that there are a lot of questions. We sat down with Dr. James Lewis, Health Officer for the Snohomish County Health Department and Dr. Alice Tin, Interim Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, to ask them about the disease.
Q: What is measles, and how serious is it?
Dr. James Lewis Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known. It's so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people nearby will also become infected if they are not protected through vaccination or previous measles infection. Measles spreads easily through the air by coughing and sneezing. It can live on surfaces and stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Dr. Alice Tin: Measles may not seem serious at first. It typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days later, a rash appears. While many people recover fully, measles can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, immune system problems, brain swelling (encephalitis), or even death. Measles is especially dangerous for young children, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. There is no specific treatment for measles, only supportive care.
Q: We've reached more than 1,000 measles cases in the U.S.—why are we seeing this increase?
Dr. Tin: In recent decades, we've been able to rely on high vaccination rates across the population to stave off measles outbreaks. When most people are vaccinated, we may see a few measles cases when people return from traveling internationally, but measles has nowhere to go because most people are immune. It hits a wall.
Dr. Lewis: During the pandemic, a lot of kids around the world and here in the U.S. couldn’t get vaccinated, leading to more outbreaks in nearly every continent. Now, when people travel abroad, they're more likely to be exposed to measles and bring an infection home. Lower vaccination rates mean measles has more paths it can take to spread through a community. We're seeing this in full force in places like Texas and New Mexico.
According to the Washington Department of Health, in 2024, only 62 percent of Washington children ages 4 to 6 were fully vaccinated against measles. In Snohomish County, the number was only slightly higher, at 64 percent, and the rate was 67% in King County.
Q: How can measles be prevented?
Dr. Lewis: The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, offers excellent protection. Two doses are 97% effective at preventing measles. One dose is about 93% effective.
Children need two doses of MMR vaccine: the first dose at 12 months and the second dose sometime between the ages of 4 -6. The second dose can be given earlier, as long as it’s been at least 28 days after the first dose.
Q: What about vitamin A and cod liver oil? There’s been talk that they can be used to fight measles.
Dr. Lewis: There is no evidence that vitamin A, cod liver oil or other supplements can prevent measles. Sometimes doctors will recommend that people with a measles infection take vitamin A, but only if there is concern for vitamin A deficiency. Taking high doses without the supervision of a healthcare professional is dangerous and can lead to liver failure and death. Taking too much vitamin A during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. The only proven effective method to prevent measles infection is vaccination.
Q: I’ve got some trips coming up. What should I do before I travel? How about when I get back?
Dr. Tin: Wherever you plan to go, it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re up-to-date on all your vaccinations. But if you’re traveling abroad or to an area of the U.S. with a measles outbreak, it’s especially important that you’re well protected from measles.
- Babies ages 6-11 months old should get an early dose of MMR. They'll still need to get the two recommended doses starting at age 12 months.
- People older than 12 months should be sure that at some point in their lives they’ve had two doses of MMR, spaced at least 28 days apart. This means that if you have a child age one or older, they should get both doses before travel to high-risk places. Some people don’t need to get vaccinated because they already are considered immune. This includes people born before 1957 and people with documented proof of measles infection in the past.
Make sure to get vaccinated at least two weeks before your trip. This gives your body a chance to build immunity. Talk to your doctor about your family’s specific health needs and travel plans.
Once you return from traveling to a high-risk area, look out for symptoms for 3 weeks. People who are infected may spread measles to others 4 days before and 4 days after a rash appears. If you develop symptoms, call or write to your healthcare provider immediately and tell them about your travel history. Please avoid in person visits to the clinic until you speak to a member of your healthcare team.
Q: I’m traveling to an area with a measles outbreak. I have a baby who is too young to be vaccinated. What can I do to protect them?
Dr. Lewis: Babies ages 6-11 months should get an early dose if traveling internationally or to areas of the U.S. with active outbreaks. They will still need the two recommended doses starting at 12 months. If you have a baby under age 6 months, consider postponing your trip. If that’s not possible, you can take steps to limit your baby’s exposure. Make sure that everyone you’re traveling with, and visiting is vaccinated, wash hands often, and avoid crowded spaces when you can. When you must be in crowded places, like the airport, ask everyone ages 2 and up in your travel group to wear a well-fitting mask. If you’re breast/chestfeeding, keep that up. Though not a substitute for vaccination, breastfeeding provides protective antibodies.
Q: How do I know the MMR vaccine is safe?
Dr. Lewis: For over 50 years, the MMR vaccine has been safely given to millions of people. Vaccines go through careful testing and continuous monitoring for safety. Like any medicine, vaccines can have side effects. These are almost always mild and temporary. Common side effects include soreness and redness at the spot you got vaccinated, a low-grade fever, or a mild rash. Serious reactions are extremely rare; it’s much more common for unvaccinated people who catch measles to get severely ill.
Dr. Tin: Some people avoid getting vaccinated due to a misconception that the MMR vaccine is connected with autism. This concern started with one poorly designed study in 1998. The study was withdrawn from the journal that published it, and the doctor who led the study lost his license to practice medicine. Since then, dozens of studies involving hundreds of thousands of children across the world have looked into this. They’ve all reached the same conclusion: there is no link between vaccines and autism.
Q: Can vaccinated people still get measles?
Dr. Lewis: Rarely. About 3% of fully vaccinated individuals can still get measles if exposed. But people who are vaccinated are much less likely to get seriously ill or spread measles to others.
Q: What if I don’t know if I’m immune to measles?
Dr. Lewis: If you were vaccinated in Washington state, you may have records in the Washington state immunization registry. Visit MyIR Mobile to view records for yourself and your family members.
If you can't find vaccination records or documentation that you had measles, you may be able to get a blood test to show whether you have immunity to measles. But it's often less expensive and simpler to just get vaccinated. Getting another dose of MMR vaccine is safe and effective even if you were vaccinated in the past.
Q: What's your advice to parents who are hesitant about vaccines?
Dr. Tin: I think parents just want to do the best they can for the health of their children. It’s important to remember that there are a variety of reasons for someone to be uncertain about vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns. As a parent myself, I know how important it is to have conversations with your provider, especially with so much misinformation circulating. The American Academy of Pediatrics has more information about the measles vaccine. You can also visit Measles | Snohomish County Health Department for more information about vaccine safety.
Dr. Lewis: What I can share is that the MMR vaccine has been very carefully studied and is extremely effective at protecting children from serious illness. Measles doesn’t always feel real, it is a disease we have not heard a lot about for a while. However, it can quickly become very real, especially for families who have lost children and loved ones. Please ask questions and to help you stay informed, you can visit Washington State Department of Health: Measles | Washington State Department of Health
