June 23, 2025

Measles Is Back: What You Should Know

Fever, runny nose, and red eyes—these are some signs of measles. And for some people, the symptoms can get much worse.

In 2025, measles is spreading again in the United States. Between January and April, there were 607 cases in 22 states, including California. That’s already more than twice as many cases as in all of 2024, when there were only 285 cases total.

Measles can affect anyone, but it usually spreads the most among children. So, how can we help keep kids safe?

What Is Measles?

Measles is a disease that spreads very easily. It’s also called rubeola. Most people who get it are children.

It gives you a red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and behind the ears, spreading downwards to the rest of the body. You also get a fever, a miserable cough, a really runny nose, and red, watery eyes. 

Complications can cause pneumonia, which can lead to death as well. Even if you completely recover from your measles, there are also long-term complications that result in developmental regression and death. 

What Can Help?

There are different ideas about how to prevent or treat measles. Some people believe vitamins, like vitamin A, can help. And there’s truth to that! Vitamin A can make symptoms less severe, especially in places where people don’t get enough of it in their diets. That’s why the World Health Organization suggests giving vitamin A to children with measles in certain countries.

Everyone is making the best decision that they know with the limited information that they have. In the United States, though, most people get enough vitamin A. Only 0.3% of the population doesn’t have enough vitamin A. So while it may help in some cases, vitamin A alone doesn’t stop the disease from spreading.

The MMR vaccine (which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella) is one of the best ways we know to prevent measles in the first place. Thanks to this vaccine, measles was almost gone from the U.S. by the year 2000. But now that fewer people are getting vaccinated, the number of cases is going up again.

We all want to keep our families healthy. Learning the facts, asking questions, and talking with trusted health professionals can help us make the best choices for our kids and communities.