Category: infections, vaccination, and hygiene

How to be Aware and Prepared for Measles

My home state Oklahoma confirmed its first two measles cases on March 11, 2025, linked to outbreaks in neighboring Texas and New Mexico. This is added to outbreaks in at least 12 other states. Viruses don’t recognize state lines or international borders, so everyone needs to be aware and prepared for its arrival.

I live in Oklahoma, and depending on where you live you may or may not know where that is.

My state lies in the south-central part of the United States, often called the Plains. You may be familiar with Texas, a large state that shares its southern border with Mexico.

Oklahoma shares its southern border with Texas. We also border five other states-Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

With measles cases reported in Texas and New Mexico, it’s not surprising it has crossed over into Oklahoma. Rather, people infected with the measles virus have crossed over.

According to the CDC,

“As of March 6, 2025, a total of 222 measles cases were reported by 12 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington.”

Why should you care? Lots of people will travel over Spring Break, which starts here next week. In two months schools close for the summer and families travel on vacations. When people travel, the viruses they carry go with them.

More states, and maybe countries, may join the list of measles outbreaks. Here is the report from Oklahoma Voice about the infections in my home state.

First measles cases reported in Oklahoma, but public health officials remain mum on details

by Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
March 11, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — State health officials on Tuesday ( March 11, 2025) said they’ve confirmed the first two cases of measles in Oklahoma amid an ongoing outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.

But Oklahoma State Health Department officials did not share where in Oklahoma those cases were diagnosed or how old the individuals are.

They said they believe the exposures were associated with the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, which is confirmed to have killed one child and sickened over 250 people.

Erica Rankin, a spokesperson for the state health department, said Oklahoma’s two cases present “no further risk to public safety.” The agency only releases geographic information about measles cases when there is a “public health risk” and all potential exposures cannot be identified. Three or more related cases is considered an outbreak, she said. 

It was unclear Tuesday afternoon whether the individuals were vaccinated against the measles.

Health officials did say the two cases are unrelated to an erroneous report of measles in Bartlesville on March 4. The two confirmed cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are under investigation.

With outbreaks in neighboring states, the Oklahoma Health Department, or OSDH, has been on “high alert” and monitoring for cases in the state, according to a statement from the department. 

“If a measles case is identified, the OSDH team will work with the individual on next steps and guidance to mitigate the spread and protect others. If there is a risk of spread to the public, the OSDH will notify the public and share any information necessary to protect the health of Oklahomans.”

“These cases highlight the importance of being aware of measles activity as people travel or host visitors. When people know they have exposure risk and do not have immunity to measles, they can exclude themselves from public settings for the recommended duration to eliminate the risk of transmission in their community.”

per Kendra Dougherty, the Health Department’s director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Response

Prevention

Measles can be prevented with an MMR vaccine which is recommended for children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years old. Receiving two doses of the vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is about 93% effective, the Health Department reported in a statement. 

Almost 92% of Oklahoma kindergartners were up to date on their MMR vaccines, according to the 2023-24 Oklahoma Kindergarten Immunization Survey. 

The department recommended that individuals with known exposure to measles who are not immune through vaccination or prior infection consult with a health care provider and “exclude themselves from public settings for 21 days unless symptoms develop.” 

To confirm a report of measles, the case must show symptoms and have a test confirming the diagnosis. 

This story is republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.

Measles elsewhere

Here are links to stories about the ongoing outbreaks of measles in New Mexico and Texas.

https://sourcenm.com/2025/03/07/growing-nm-measles-cases-not-a-rapidly-expanding-outbreak-doh-says/
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread

CDC Key Points about Measles

  • Measles is very contagious and can be serious.
  • Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk.
    • Two doses of MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles.
Measles is highly contagious.

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Questions and answers about monkeypox

Predominant symptoms of monkeypox include fever, rash ,enlarged lymph nodes, muscle aches, and chills. Most patients with monkeypox have a mild illness. Symptom onset is 7-13 days after exposure, but can be as long as 3 weeks.

updated October 1, 2022

Several poxviruses infect humans, ranging from the deadly smallpox to the contagious but not serious molluscum contagiosum. Now more than 30 countries, including the United States are experiencing an outbreak of monkeypox, which the World Health Organization is calling a”a public health emergency of international concern.”

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox, an orthopoxvirus, was first isolated in the late 1950s from a colony of sick monkeys in Copenhagen Denmark. The virus is related to the variola, smallpox, and vaccinia, coxpox, viruses. The first known human case was found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.

Where is monkeypox found?

Since routine smallpox immunization ended, most cases have occurred in Central and West Africa. Sporadic cases have been reported in several non-endemic countries, typically in returning travelers.

A person with monkeypox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2–4 weeks

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
As of September 13, 2022 there are 59,000 global cases and 22,000 United States cases of monkeypox.
worldwide cases of monkeypox as of SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

How does it spread?

The virus is typically acquired through contact with an infected animal’s bodily fluids or through a bite.

Human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with infectious skin lesions. Direct contact with lesions that contain the virus can easily transmit the disease .

Transmission can also occur through large respiratory droplets, and prolonged face-to-face contact (eg, within 6 feet for ≥3 hours in the absence of personal protection equipment [PPE]).

What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

Onset of monkeypox infection is 5 days to 3 weeks after exposure.

Predominant symptoms of monkeypox include

  • fever,
  • rash,
  • enlarged lymph nodes,
  • sore throat,
  • muscle aches,
  • chills,
  • headache

The rash is similar to that of smallpox or chickenpox. The illness usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.

How do doctors diagnose monkeypox?

Doctors usually suspect monkeypox based on symptoms, especially a suspicious rash. Testing is done on specimens collected by swabbing monkeypox lesions, but should only be obtained by professionals wearing appropriate PPE.

CDC is working with state and local health officials to identify people who may have been in contact with individuals who have tested positive for monkeypox, so they can monitor their health.

CDC website
This electron microscopic (EM) image depicted a monkeypox virion, obtained from a clinical sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. It was a thin section image from of a human skin sample. On the left were mature, oval-shaped virus particles, and on the right were the crescents, and spherical particles of immature virions.

This electron microscopic (EM) image depicted a monkeypox virion, obtained from a clinical sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. It was a thin section image from of a human skin sample. On the left were mature, oval-shaped virus particles, and on the right were the crescents, and spherical particles of immature virions. credit CDC, Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regnery

What treatments are available?

Most patients have mild disease and recover with home supportive care, similar to influenza, COVID, and other viral infections. For the seriously ill patient, medically supervised supportive care is necessary until recovery.

The antiviral agents, tecovirimat and brincidofovir, approved for treatment of smallpox in the United States, work for monkeypox in animals and are likely to work in humans.

Can monkeypox be prevented?

When a rash is present, persons with suspected monkeypox should be considered infectious and be isolated until all scabs separate and results of testing are negative.  

Detailed information on infection control precautions to reduce transmission of monkeypox in the home is on the CDC website.

Persons with close contact with an infected animal or person should be monitored for symptoms for 21 days after their last exposure .

Detailed information on the approach to monitoring after an exposure can be found on the CDC website.

Is there a vaccine?

The JYNNEOS vaccine is approved for prevention of smallpox and monkeypox. It is the primary vaccine being used during this outbreak in the U.S.

The ACAM2000 vaccine is an alternative to JYNNEOS. It is also approved to help protect against smallpox and monkeypox.

Facts about JYNNEOS vaccine 2 dose vaccine, maximum immunity 14 days after dose 2

Is monkeypox fatal?

In Central Africa, the fatality rate is approximately 10 percent, generally in the second week of illness.

In the 2003 outbreak in the United States, none of the 34 confirmed cases died, although a few became seriously ill, requiring hospitalization.

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