US Confirms Six Measles-Related Deaths Amid Worst Outbreak in Decades

WASHINGTON: (News Desk) – The United States has confirmed six measles-related deaths so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the country faces its worst resurgence of the highly contagious disease in decades.

The updated death toll, published on the CDC website on Thursday, is double the number of measles-related fatalities recorded in 2025, highlighting the continued spread of the virus.

Measles cases across the United States have exceeded 5,000 for the first time since 1991. Meanwhile, an expert commission of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is expected to decide in the coming days whether the country should retain its measles-free status.

Pennsylvania has emerged as the hardest-hit state during the outbreak. As of November 4, the state had reported six measles-associated deaths this year.

Separately, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services confirmed the death of an infant, while New York reported its first known measles-related death in more than three decades.

However, the CDC did not identify the states where the six deaths in its latest national count occurred.

The difference in reported figures emerged after the CDC, under US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., changed its reporting approach and began relying on mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics instead of figures provided directly by state health departments.

The US Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. The virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

According to health experts, approximately nine out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to the virus are likely to become infected.

Symptoms generally appear 10 to 14 days after exposure and initially include high fever, dry cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Small white spots, known as Koplik’s spots, may subsequently develop inside the mouth, followed by a red, blotchy rash that usually begins on the face before spreading across the body.

Although many patients recover within a few weeks, measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, ear infections, severe diarrhoea and inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis.

There is no specific antiviral cure for measles, and treatment generally focuses on managing symptoms, maintaining hydration and providing adequate rest.

Health authorities emphasise that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and control outbreaks. The two-dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides approximately 97 per cent protection against measles.