Illinois has reported its first confirmed case of measles this year – an unvaccinated person in Marion – just as Texas continues to deal with a growing outbreak that began in late January. As the virus spreads across more than 20 states, health officials are raising concerns about a national resurgence.

The outbreak began in West Texas, and has now expanded. As of April 17, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 800 confirmed measles cases across 25 U.S. jurisdictions, with Texas being the most affected state, accounting for 597 cases. This marks a substantial increase from the previous week, which had 712 cases nationwide. According to the CDC, 96 percent of those infected were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. The highest number of cases occurred among children ages 5 to 19.

Two unvaccinated school-age children, with no underlying health issues, died earlier this year in Texas from measles-related complications; the first death occurred in February and the second in April.

Measles, a disease declared eliminated in 2000, is now spreading across the nation. Vaccine hesitancy plays a role.

“The more people – and it is your own belief, you know – that don’t vaccinate their children against certain diseases can bring it back. Like when people stopped vaccinating against polio; polio was completely eradicated. Well, when we stopped people, you know, getting the polio vaccine, then it started coming back,” West Chicago Community High School (WEGO) nurse Cathy Collins said.

Vaccinations remain one of the most effective ways to prevent outbreaks, especially for children whose immune systems are still developing. According to the DuPage County Health Department, 96 percent of DuPage-area schoolchildren were vaccinated against measles as of the 2023–24 school year. That number has declined slightly over the past decade – from 97.5 percent in 2014–15.

“I can see from the perspective of anti-vaccinators not wanting to add certain things into their bodies, but what they have to understand is that certain vaccinations have been around for years. These same vaccinations that doctors have spent research and dedication that resulted in them discovering evidence that this type of medication truly works including those ‘new’ ones,” West Chicago resident Ismael Barrera said.

While vaccination is a personal decision, health officials worry that unvaccinated students may be at greater risk of contracting measles and spreading it to others. West Chicago Community High School has procedures in place: if a measles case is reported at school, any unvaccinated student will be required to quarantine for 21 days.

As the outbreak continues, more people are expressing concern.

“I think it will keep spreading cause people don’t always keep clean, and I think it’s gonna keep spreading as people travel for the holidays and over summer, and it’ll just get bigger, or if people stay clean I think it should start to go down,” freshman Wajeha Ramzan said.

The virus spreads easily, especially when people are traveling. As the weather warms up and movement increases across the country, it opens a cautious door to disease – making it easier for measles to spread from place to place.

“The number of incidents and cases occurring to multiple residents in [Texas] seems to be a very concerning matter, making it seem to be a major outbreak. One that I feel some would consider as not a direct but close comparison to what COVID was,” Barrera said.

The concern is that this outbreak could continue to grow. While measles is not the same as COVID-19, the rapid spread across states has sparked familiar fears.

Collins said the best way to prevent illness is simple.

“If you’re sick, stay home,” Collins said. “Wash your hands – like, wash them to ‘Happy Birthday’ sung twice. Not that hard, with soap and water. Don’t touch your eyes, don’t touch your lips, don’t touch your nose. Don’t sneeze on each other. Try not to share drinks. If someone’s sick, don’t cough on each other. If you’re gonna sneeze – you know that old thing you were taught in kindergarten – sneeze in your elbow. It just comes down to that. Everything comes down to handwashing. Don’t sneeze or cough on anybody.”