Health

Measles in the U.S.: Latest Maps and Cases

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2025

Measles in the U.S.: Latest Maps and Cases

Measles continues to spread in West Texas and New Mexico, with more than 250 people infected — many unvaccinated school-age children. Two cases in Oklahoma, for which state officials have not provided a location, have also been linked to these outbreaks. Eleven other states have reported isolated measles cases, typically linked to international travel.

Measles cases by county in 2025

● Isolated cases ● Outbreaks

Source: State health departments; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Note: Reported measles cases as of March 11.

The Texas outbreak began in late January, when local health officials reported two cases in Gaines County, a rural agricultural area on the western edge of the state.

The outbreak quickly escalated. Measles has spread into neighboring counties and infected at least 223 people as of Tuesday, including 29 people who have been hospitalized and an unvaccinated young child who died, the first such death in the United States in a decade.

New Mexico also declared an outbreak in Lea County, which borders Gaines County. While the cases in New Mexico have not officially been connected to the Texas outbreak, officials have said they are “undoubtedly related.”

Measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico

Reported measles cases for Texas and New Mexico counties as of March 11.

Last week, an unvaccinated resident of Lea County who tested positive for the virus died, though officials have not yet confirmed that measles was the cause of death.

In both states, most measles cases have spread among people who are unvaccinated or with unknown vaccine status.

For years, Gaines County has had low childhood vaccination rates, largely because of the area’s large Mennonite community. While there is no religious doctrine that explicitly forbids vaccines, the insular Christian group has historically avoided interacting with the health care system and has a long tradition of using home remedies and supplements.

Roughly 82 percent of the kindergarten students in the county had received the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, or M.M.R., last year, which is far below the 95 percent coverage needed to prevent outbreaks in a community.

Texas public schools require children to have received certain vaccines, including the M.M.R. shot, but parents can apply for an exemption for “reasons of conscience,” including religious beliefs. Last year, Gaines County had one of the highest exemption rates in the state.

Vaccination rates can vary widely by school district. The Loop Independent School District in Gaines County is a small district with one school and the lowest rate of measles vaccination in the affected Texas counties. Only 46 percent of kindergarten students had received their M.M.R. vaccine in the 2023 school year, down from 82 percent in 2019.

Change in measles vaccination rates in affected Texas counties

By county, for public school districts and private schools, since 2019

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services

Chart shows the change in reported vaccination rates among kindergarten students in public school districts and private schools from 2019–20 to 2023–24. Homeschooled children are not included in this data.

In Lea County, N.M., the M.M.R. vaccination rate for children and teens is relatively high, at about 94 percent. But the rate among adults is much lower: 63 percent have received one shot of M.M.R., and only 55 percent have received both shots, according to local health officials, though they noted that there may be vaccinated adults whose records have not been added to the system. Adults make up more than half of reported cases in New Mexico.

Measles is one of the most contagious known infections. In a hypothetical community where nobody had immunity from the virus and each infected person infected 18 others, a small outbreak would quickly grow out of control:

Every vaccinated person would help slow the spread of the virus and limit the outbreak:

For the outbreak to end quickly, each infected person would need to infect fewer than one other person, on average. In this example, 17 of 18 people would need to be vaccinated — more than 94 percent of the community:

And while measles symptoms often resolve on their own within a few weeks, the virus can be extremely dangerous in rare cases. It may cause pneumonia, making it difficult for children to get oxygen into their lungs.

The infection can also lead to brain swelling, which can cause lasting damage, including blindness, deafness and intellectual disabilities. For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus also causes “immune amnesia,” making the body unable to defend itself against illnesses it has already been exposed to and leaving patients more susceptible to future infections.

Once someone is infected with the virus, doctors have little control over how serious a measles infection becomes — there is no antiviral for measles to stop its spread in the body, only “supportive care” to help manage symptoms. That’s why experts recommend that people get two doses of the M.M.R. vaccine, which are 97 percent effective at preventing infection.

Measles was officially declared eliminated — which means the virus is not continually spreading — in 2000, in large part because of aggressive vaccination campaigns. Experts now fear that status may be at risk, as childhood vaccination rates have been falling nationally.

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Health

Top 5 states with the highest number of safe hospitals, according to new report

Published

1 hour ago

March 22, 2026

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Top 5 states with the highest number of safe hospitals, according to new report

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Hundreds of hospitals across the country are being recognized for keeping patients safe, and a handful of states stand out for having the highest number of top performers.

Healthgrades, a platform for finding doctors, health care providers and hospitals, released its 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Awards this month, naming 438 hospitals in 40 states that rank among the top 10% nationwide for patient safety.

The analysis highlights centers that excel at preventing serious, avoidable complications during hospital stays based on 13 patient safety indicators.

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Among all states, five had the highest number of hospitals earning the distinction: Texas, Florida, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Hundreds of hospitals across the U.S. were recognized for top patient safety performance in a new report. (iStock)

These states led the nation in total award recipients, with counts ranging from 21 to as many as 62 hospitals, according to Healthgrades data cited by MedPage Today. The concentration of high-performing hospitals in these states may be partly driven by size, the outlet noted.

“The prevalence of recipients in a particular state could be related to something as simple as that state having a large number of hospitals,” a Healthgrades spokesperson told MedPage Today.

Nonetheless, the findings point to strong safety performance across several of the nation’s most populated regions, particularly major metro areas such as Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City.

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Patients treated at these hospitals saw significantly lower risks for some of the most common and serious safety events that account for the majority of in-hospital complications, according to a news release.

The rankings are based on data measuring 13 patient safety indicators, including infections and complications. (iStock)

Compared to other hospitals, patients at award-winning facilities were 52.4% less likely to experience an in-hospital fall resulting in fracture; 57.5% less likely to suffer a collapsed lung related to procedures; 67.8% less likely to develop catheter-related bloodstream infections; and 71.9% less likely to develop pressure sores.

Those four indicators alone make up about 78% of all patient safety events, according to Healthgrades, and if all hospitals performed at the same level as this year’s recipients, more than 100,000 patient safety events could have been avoided between 2022 and 2024.

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“The data behind this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award highlights how measurable improvements in safety can prevent thousands of complications,” Dr. Alana Biggers, a medical advisor at Healthgrades, said in a statement.

Hospitals were required to report zero cases of serious errors, such as leaving a foreign object behind during a procedure. (iStock)

“Hospitals that prioritize evidence-based safety practices not only achieve better clinical outcomes but also cultivate a culture where patients come first,” Biggers added. “These insights give individuals and families the information they need to make confident and better informed healthcare decisions.”

The award is based on an analysis of Medicare inpatient data, evaluating outcomes such as complications, mortality and preventable safety events. To qualify, hospitals must meet strict clinical thresholds and report zero cases of certain serious errors, such as leaving a foreign object behind during a procedure.

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Overall, 250 hospitals ranked in the top 5% nationwide for safety, including facilities affiliated with major systems such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and HCA Healthcare.

Ten states had no hospitals on the list: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Some states had no hospitals on the list, highlighting gaps in access to high-quality care. (iStock)

Experts say factors including rural hospital shortages and “care deserts” may contribute to those gaps because patients in underserved areas often face longer travel times and arrive with more advanced conditions.

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Nearly one-third of this year’s recognized hospitals were new to the list, according to Healthgrades, reflecting continued shifts in hospital performance and safety practices across the country.

The full list of hospitals that received the Patient Safety Excellence Award can be found here.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Healthgrades for additional comment.

Deirdre Bardolf is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital.

Health

Widespread habit may raise colorectal cancer risk more than you think

Published

13 hours ago

March 21, 2026

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Widespread habit may raise colorectal cancer risk more than you think

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Colorectal cancer is now officially the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women 50 and younger, according to research from the American Cancer Society.

While some risk factors — like age, family history and genetics — can’t be controlled, there are some lifestyle behaviors that can increase the chances of the disease.

One of those is drinking alcohol, which has been linked to an increased risk of at least six different types of cancer.

HIDDEN VIRUS INSIDE GUT BACTERIA LINKED TO DOUBLED COLORECTAL CANCER RISK, STUDY FINDS

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcoholic beverages as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means there is strong, sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in humans.

Dr. Tereza Cristina Sardinha, chief of colon and rectal surgery services at Catholic Health on Long Island, New York, confirmed that alcohol is a well-known risk factor for all cancers, but particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract.

Drinking alcohol has been linked to an increased risk of at least six different types of cancer. (iStock)

“The alcohol, or ethanol, will metabolize and break down into acetaldehyde,” she shared with Fox News Digital. “This metabolism of alcohol is very toxic to the DNA of the cell, which over time can lead to the development of cancer.”

Alcohol also changes the microbiome of the gut, which is another strong factor in cancer risk, according to Sardinha.

Colorectal cancer is now officially the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women 50 and younger. (iStock)

“The microbiome has a significant effect on many pathogens in the colon and rectum, and diet and alcohol definitely affect the types of bacteria in your gut.”

When the gut’s “first line of defense” is disrupted, it can trigger a series of changes, particularly DNA damage, inflammation and oxidative stress within cells, the doctor said.

“These processes are closely linked to cancer development, which is why alcohol is considered a carcinogen.”

NEARLY 40% OF CANCERS CAN BE PREVENTED WITH 3 LIFESTYLE CHANGES, STUDY FINDS

The relationship between alcohol and colorectal cancer risk is “dose-dependent,” she said.

“Patients who drink regularly for a long period of time, meaning at least 10 years, will have a lifetime increase in the development of colorectal cancer.”

“The negative impact of spirits (hard liquor) is greater than beer, which is more than wine,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

Research shows that for those who drink at least two drinks per day — which is considered “moderate consumption,” the doctor said — the lifetime risk of colorectal cancer will increase by at least 25%.

A heavier drinker, consuming more than two drinks a day, will have an exponentially greater risk.

COLORECTAL CANCER NOW DEADLIEST TYPE FOR CERTAIN GROUP OF AMERICANS, STUDY FINDS

“What really makes the difference is not only the volume but the frequency,” Sardinha said. “I just saw one of my patients who I operated on last week, and she drinks six beers a day, and she developed colon cancer. She’s not morbidly obese, she’s not a smoker. The only risk factor she has is alcohol.”

The doctor advises her patients to avoid alcohol “or at least minimize intake.”

“What really makes the difference is not only the volume but the frequency.”

If someone stops drinking, the risk won’t disappear immediately, the doctor noted.

“It takes about an average of 10 years to know if cancer risk decreased or not,” she said. “But we do know that if you continue drinking, your risk will definitely increase.

MOM WITH NO SYMPTOMS HAD STAGE 4 COLORECTAL CANCER — AND A RARE SURGERY SAVED HER LIFE

“That’s why we recommend that patients stop drinking or exponentially decrease their intake in the same way we tell them to exercise and increase fruits and vegetables in their diet.”

Sardinha pointed out that alcohol isn’t the only culprit.

“Not all heavy drinkers develop cancer, so there has to be some other mechanism that plays a role,” she said.

And not all types of alcohol are equal in terms of colorectal cancer risk, according to Dr. Nathan Goodyear, integrative medicine physician at Williams Cancer Institute in California.

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“The negative impact of spirits (hard liquor) is greater than beer, which is more than wine,” he told Fox News Digital.

A Danish study also found that wine consumption was associated with a lower risk of death, while beer and spirits were not, Goodyear pointed out. Spirits had the highest risk, especially at three to five drinks per day.

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“The effects of wine, beer and spirits were independent of each other,” the doctor said.

The context in which alcohol is consumed can also play a role, he noted.

In addition to stopping or limiting alcohol intake, doctors say other healthy lifestyle behaviors, like exercise, have been shown to decrease the chances of colorectal cancer. (iStock)

“In the U.S., alcohol is often used in the context of addiction — another hit to keep the high,” Goodyear said. “But in some communities, such as Sardina, Italy, and Ikaria, Greece, wine is part of the culture, social connections and community.”

“Wine is taken outside the context of addiction and taken within the context of a plant-based diet, social settings, daily movement, faith, community and life.”

Other ways to minimize risk

In addition to stopping or limiting alcohol intake, Sardinha shared other healthy lifestyle behaviors that have been shown to decrease the chances of colorectal cancer.

One “huge and well-established” factor is regular exercise, she said.

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“If you don’t exercise, if you don’t move, you definitely increase your risk of colorectal cancer,” she told Fox News Digital. “Even for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, once they have surgery and are able to exercise, that will improve their long-term prognosis.”

Smoking is another highly carcinogenic habit, and it’s a common myth that it’s only associated with lung cancer.

“We do know that if you continue drinking, your risk will definitely increase.”

“Smoking is a risk factor for most cancers, and colorectal cancer is one of them,” Sardinha said.

Taking steps to address and prevent obesity is also a well-established way to minimize risk, as is adopting a healthy, high-fiber diet to promote proper bowel function, according to the doctor.

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“Diets that are lower in fiber are often more constipating, and, therefore, if there’s anything in the food that is carcinogenic, that is going to have more direct, prolonged contact with the bowel wall, with the cells, and increases the chances of DNA damage,” she said.

“Obviously, we cannot change our family history, but those good lifestyle habits will make a difference in the risk of colorectal cancer.”

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.