Health urges MMR shot as measles spreads ‘like wildfire’ on US mainland

The Virgin Islands Department of Health said it “is closely monitoring the rise in measles cases in the US along with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which reported more than 300 confirmed cases across 15 jurisdictions to date.”

“With the spring and summer travel season approaching, the CDC emphasizes the importance of vaccination,” said Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion at a Government House press briefing held today. “The Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective protection against measles. We strongly encourage all residents, particularly those traveling internationally, to be up to date on their MMR vaccinations. With the crisis that we are facing nationally, parents should ensure their children receive the vaccine as soon as possible.”

As of Friday, the CDC reported outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Texas has reported a total of 259 confirmed cases for 2025, with one fatality – an unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions. New Mexico has reported 35 confirmed cases with one fatality – an unvaccinated adult.

The agency reported between one and three confirmed cases for another 13 other jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. 95% of the cases reported are among persons who are unvaccinated, or the vaccine status is unknown.

Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious health complications, particularly in young children. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a body-wide rash. Severe cases can result in ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and encephalitis (brain swelling). Symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, and the virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.