Washington: The number of measles cases in the United States has exceeded 700, marking a troubling escalation in the outbreak that now spans six states. Indiana recently joined Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma in experiencing active outbreaks, with Texas witnessing a surge of 60 new cases and reporting a third death linked to the disease.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Health Secretary Robert Kennedy addressed the situation during a televised cabinet meeting, stating that while measles cases are increasing nationwide, the majority remain concentrated among unvaccinated individuals. In response, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dispatched a medical team to West Texas, highlighting the severity of the situation in the region.

The United States has recorded more than double the number of measles cases compared to all of 2024, with Texas alone accounting for 541 cases. The outbreak has been particularly devastating in rural West Texas, where two unvaccinated children of elementary school age succumbed to measles-related illnesses. This prompted Secretary Kennedy to visit the affected area to assess and address the outbreak’s impact firsthand.

In addition to the fatalities in Texas, a third death has been reported in New Mexico, involving an unvaccinated adult. The outbreak’s expansion to Indiana marks the latest state to report three or more cases, meeting the criteria for an active outbreak. Health officials in Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma are also grappling with the spread of the virus as they work to contain further transmission.