MIAMI – Measles, which spreads airborne, will be a concern for families during this spring break travel season.
The highly contagious viral illness first infects the respiratory tract and causes high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and a rash.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported the highest increase in cases since 2019.
Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee were among the 25 states where the CDC had confirmed at least 712 cases.
The data shows that communities with low rates of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, or MMR, faced a higher risk.
More than 540 cases were in Texas where two children ages 6 and 8, who were not vaccinated, died. Most kids recover, but the disease can lead to pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death.
More than 350 cases in Texas since January were in Gaines County where the Mennonites, a Protestant community with historically low vaccination rates.
The World Health Organization reported the outbreak in Texas had spread to Mexico.
On Thursday, during a public cabinet meeting, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the cases were plateauing.