The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking public health departments and clinicians to prepare for a rise in measles cases as summer travel brings increased opportunity for the virus to spread.
As of May 14, 1,893 measles cases have been reported nationally – already more than half of last year’s total, according to CDC findings. Although Texas cases have waned since last year’s outbreak in West Texas, 182 cases have been reported in the state as of mid-May.
“With continued measles transmission in areas across North America and expected increases in international and domestic travel and large events during spring and summer, additional measles cases are anticipated in the coming months,” CDC said in its guidance.
CDC asks physicians and state and local health departments to help prepare for travel season by:
- Reporting measles within 24 hours to CDC and through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System;
- Establishing measles case reporting within hospitals and to public health authorities;
- Recording and reporting details about cases of measles, including any close contacts and locations visited while infectious (i.e., four days before and after rash onset);
- Actively monitoring to identify any additional suspected cases of measles;
- Enhancing outreach and communications to under-vaccinated communities through trusted messengers; and
- Using CDC’s Be Ready for Measles toolkit to communicate with different audiences when preparing for and responding to measles cases and outbreaks. The toolkit is available in additional languages and printer-friendly versions by request from CDC.
TMA also continues to urge physicians to encourage vaccination among patients, test for measles if they suspect it and ensure isolation after diagnosis, make sure no one enters a room for two hours if a patient with measles was there, get vaccinated themselves, and report cases to their local health departments.
For more information and advocacy materials, see
TMA’s measles resource center.
Last Updated On
May 15, 2026
Originally Published On
May 15, 2026
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469