MONROE COUNTY- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, as of February 27th, nine states have reported measles cases since the beginning of the year: Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services, where the first measles outbreak of 2025 was identified, reported 159 cases on March 4, 2025, and expect the number to rise due to the highly contagious nature of the illness.
According to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), about 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to measles will become infected. The virus is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets and airborne particles that can linger in the air for up to two hours.
Measles can lead to serious complications, especially in children, with one in five unvaccinated individuals
requiring hospitalization. Texas recently reported the death of a school-aged child who was unvaccinated.
The best protection against measles is the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, with two doses
recommended. These are often given to children at 12-15 months, with the second between ages four to six. People who are not vaccinated, or unsure of their vaccination status, should consult their healthcare provider.
The Monroe County Public Health Clinic, located at 333 E. Miller Drive, offers MMR vaccinations by appointment. Call 812-353-3244 to schedule. The clinic provides free immunizations to children up to 18 who are uninsured, on Medicaid, Alaskan or Native American, or have insurance that doesn’t cover vaccines. The clinic also bills most insurance companies for insured children and adults and offers select vaccines at no cost to adults without vaccine coverage.
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