Summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico and offer guidance for prevention and monitoring. As of March 7, 2025, Texas and New Mexico have reported 208 confirmed cases associated with this outbreak (198 in Texas and 10 in New Mexico). As a part of this outbreak, two deaths have been reported: one in Texas and one in New Mexico. More cases are expected as this outbreak continues to expand rapidly.

With spring and summer travel season approaching in the United States, CDC emphasizes the important role that clinicians and public health officials play in preventing the spread of measles. They should be vigilant for cases of febrile rash illness that meet the measles case definition and share effective measles prevention strategies, including vaccination guidance for international travelers.

The risk for widespread measles in the United States remains low due to robust U.S. immunization and surveillance programs and outbreak response capacity supported by federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial health partners. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles. To prevent measles infection and spread from imported cases, all U.S. residents should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially before traveling internationally, regardless of the destination.

Lansing — Michigan’s top public health officials described the surge in COVID-19 that continues to afflict the state as a “critical” situation and “deeply concerning” as they seek 200 more ventilators to treat serious cases.

But as coronavirus infections and deaths continue to surge, health officials indicated no new restrictions were coming to try to combat the numbers.

Instead, during a press conference on the 21-month anniversary of Michigan’s first COVID-19 cases being reported, Elizabeth Hertel, the health director, and Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the chief medical executive, again urged residents to get vaccinated, obtain their booster shots and voluntarily wear masks. Their pleas came a day after Michigan reported its first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus and amid record numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

“The situation in our state is critical right now,” Bagdasarian said. “Cases are surging. Hospitals are full. And we have a new variant.”

Likewise, Hertel, director of the Department of Health and Human Services, said the state’s COVID-19 numbers were trending in “a deeply concerning direction, heading into the Christmas holiday and the new year.”

The state is seeking 200 additional ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile, said Lynn Sutfin, spokeswoman for the Michigan health department.

It’s a request that points to the seriousness of the current situation and recalls the early months of the pandemic when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration feuded with then-President Donald Trump over access to health care supplies from the federal government.

On Friday afternoon — hours after the cautionary comments by health officials — Michigan surpassed 25,000 deaths tied to COVID-19.

The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 11,783 new COVID-19 cases and 235 deaths linked to the virus on Friday, including numbers from Thursday. The new deaths pushed the overall tally since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 to 25,080.

Deaths tied to the virus were increasing, Bagdasarian told reporters.

“Eighty-seven people died of COVID-19 each day in the last week here in our state,” she told reporters. “Eighty-seven people each day. (I) just want to emphasize that number.”

Record hospitalizations tallies

The state also reported a record number of adults were hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday: 4,502. The number was higher than the peaks of the three past surges and has been increasing since July.

The tally has spiked in recent weeks, spurring concerns about when the surge will crest and the health care system’s ability to handle the crush of new patients.

About 75% of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients across the state are not fully vaccinated, according to state officials.

During the surge at the end of 2020, the number of adults hospitalized with confirmed cases peaked at 3,884 on Dec. 1, 2020. Friday’s tally was up 16% over that number.

Last week, the percentage of tests for the virus bringing positive results hit 19.6%, a potentially troubling sign of the disease’s prevalence and the highest percentage since the early weeks of the pandemic when much less testing was taking place.

Hertel: Vaccines are focus

During another virus surge a year ago, state health officials closed indoor dining at restaurants and suspended in-person learning at high schools and colleges. This month, some have called for a statewide mask mandate for indoor gatherings or at K-12 schools.

But Hertel said the state’s focus is making sure people are getting vaccinated and getting booster shots.

“Masking is important while we go through trying to achieve our herd immunity through vaccinations, but vaccinations are the absolute best tool that we have,” she said. “It is imperative that people get vaccinated as soon as possible or get their booster shot if they’re eligible.”

Likewise, Rochelle Walensky, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Friday stressed the importance of vaccines.

In March, Walensky said she had a sense of “impending doom” amid rising COVID case numbers. Asked about that remark Friday, Walensky said she’s not feeling the same amid the current surge because the country has “many more readily available tools” than earlier this year.

“We have 200 million people who are fully vaccinated, and we have boosters readily available and 80,000 sites for people to roll up their sleeves and get maximum protection from our vaccines and our boosters,” she said at a press briefing. “We have vaccinations for our children down to the age of 5, and we have a lot of science that informs many of the things that we can do to prevent COVID-19 in ourselves and our families and in our communities.

“It is the collection of all of those things together — vaccinations, boosters and preventive measures — that really gives me a lot more faith in our where we are currently.”

New variant arrives

A day before the comments, the Michigan health department revealed the first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected in a fully vaccinated Kent County resident. The variant is believed to be more transmissible than other variants, including delta, which is driving Michigan’s current surge.

It might be too soon to determine whether the omicron variant is associated with less, similar or more severe disease, as evidence is still in its early stages, said Stephen Hawes, professor and chairman of the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health at the University of Washington.

“In terms of vaccination, the message remains that vaccination is the most important prevention method, both at an individual and population level, and that boosters are currently necessary to ensure best protection against the current and emerging virus strains,” Hawes said.

Asked if the omicron variant has changed her thinking on requiring students to wear masks in K-12 schools, Hertel said the state continues to recommend masks be worn in schools.

For months, the state health department has declined to issue a statewide mandate for masks in schools, instead choosing to encourage districts and county health officials to institute the requirements.

The current surge continues to crowd hospitals across the state. It has the ability to hinder everyone’s access to health care, Hertel said.

Meanwhile, a team of 23 military nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and other personnel has been stationed at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn to assist with COVID-19.

Dr. Paolo Marciano, chief medical officer for Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, said receiving staffing assistance from the federal government at his facility had been a “tremendous lifeline.”

“Where we are today is really just keeping our head above water,” he said.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

Staff Writers Melissa Nann Burke, Sarah Rahal and Karen Bouffard contributed.

The Detroit Health Department is urging Detroiters to take precautions to protect against measles, a serious respiratory illness that can lead to complications and death.

The warning comes as cases of the highly contagious virus have been confirmed in Wayne, Washtenaw and Oakland counties. The health department noted it’s working closely with the state and Wayne County health officials to monitor and track cases, all of which have been associated with international travel so far.

“We want Detroiters to put their trust in the Detroit Health Department, and we will do everything we can to keep them safe,” Detroit’s Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo said in a statement. “The Health Department is working diligently to stay ahead of this health concern, and as cases are increasing, we will continue to provide updates and guidance on best practices to prevent the spread of measles.”

Related:

The health department is urging Detroit residents who are exposed to get the Measles, Mumps and Rubella, or MMR, vaccine within 72 hours if they aren’t already considered immune to the virus.

Individuals who received two doses of measles vaccine are considered immune. Additionally, adults born before 1957 or who have had measles are considered immune. For children, the first dose of the vaccine is routinely given at about 12 months and the second, starting at age 4.

The department is partnering with local providers to emphasize the importance of being prepared in the event of an outbreak. The office is also offering the measles vaccination and working to educate parents.

“We want everyone to stay safe and encourage all Detroiters to get vaccinated, especially children,” added Dr. Claudia Richardson, medical director for the Detroit Health Department.

Richardson said that the virus is preventable with a vaccine, even up to 72 hours after exposure. The vaccine is recommended for those ages 12 months and older.

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days following exposure and can include cough, a fever that can be very high (104 degrees and over), and an itchy red rash that starts on the face and can spread to other parts of the body.

Late last month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported the first confirmed case of the measles in the state since 2019. The case, out of Oakland County, is followed by additional confirmed cases in Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

As of Feb. 29, 41 cases of the virus had been reported in 16 states. In 2023, 58 cases were reported in 20 states.

There is no cure for measles. It can be dangerous for babies, young children, adults 20 and over, people who are pregnant as well as severely immunosuppressed individuals.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to measles should monitor for symptoms for 21 days.

The Detroit Health Department offers vaccinations for measles and all childhood vaccination series, plus COVID-19, flu, and RSV at its Immunizations Clinic at 100 Mack Avenue.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Late hours also are available on the first and third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the health department website or call 313-876-IMMS (4667).

Report roundup: Stressing the importance of flu vaccine during COVID pandemic

Public health experts have emphasized that during the COVID pandemic, it is important for people of all ages to get seasonal flu vaccine as a tool to limit the stress on health care systems. Our September Mott Poll report asked parents about getting flu vaccine for their children this year. Parents and health professionals across the country have been discussing the importance of children receiving flu vaccine this year not only to protect themselves, but also to prevent the spread of influenza to family members and others. Here’s what they had to say.

Avoiding a “twindemic”

Only 1 in 3 parents in the Mott Poll believed it is more important for their child to get flu vaccine this year compared to previous years, despite public health recommendations. CNN reporter Sandee LaMotte highlighted the difficulties COVID and the flu could pose for hospitals and health systems. “We may see peaks of flu and COVID-19 at the same time, which could overwhelm the health care system, strain testing capacity and potentially reduce our ability to catch and treat both respiratory illnesses effectively,” said Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark.

Increased flu vaccination this year can help reduce the number of influenza-related hospitalizations and doctor visits, and decrease the need for diagnostic tests to distinguish flu from COVID. “A key challenge for public health officials is how to reach parents who do not routinely seek seasonal flu vaccination for their child,” said Clark. “When getting a yearly flu vaccine is not a pattern, parents need to be prompted to think about why it’s essential for their child to get vaccinated.”

Provider recommendations

Recommendations from health care providers have been shown to increase the likelihood of vaccination, yet less than half of parents in the Mott Poll said their child’s regular health care provider strongly recommends flu vaccination this year. Medscape reporter Troy Brown, RN noted that this responsibility largely rests on the health care providers. Some providers focus their discussion on the specific vaccines that will be given during that day’s office visit, so visits that occur during flu season are more likely to involve discussions on flu vaccine, whereas visits in the spring and summer may be missing the opportunity for flu vaccine recommendations.

“This is very much a physician-oriented issue,” said Clark. “This is the year we need child health providers to step out of that pattern and be more proactive in trying to reach their patients who aren’t scheduled for those fall preventive visits.” She suggests providers pursue multiple strategies to emphasize the importance of flu vaccine during the COVID pandemic, such as reminder postcards.

Fighting misinformation

One-third of parents in the Mott Poll said they do not intend for their child to get flu vaccine this year. In an interview with WDIV Detroit, Clark explained that misinformation is largely what drives parents to opt out of flu vaccine for their children. “One of the biggest reasons we hear every year why parents say they don’t need to get a flu vaccine for their kids is, ‘My child is healthy and the flu is not that serious’, but that’s not true,” said Clark. “Almost every ear in Michigan we have one or more kids die, and we have a number of kids hospitalized with very severe complications from influenza.”

Among parents who will not seek flu vaccine this year, 1 in 7 said they are keeping their kids away from health care sites due to COVID. Clark suggests that parents contact their child’s health care provider to ask about safety precautions they have in place. Some practices are even offering drive-through vaccination to facilitate more people getting vaccinated. “Flu vaccine isn’t just for today or the month of September,” she said. “It’s going to carry us through the rest of the fall and winter.”

For more coverage of our September report, check out these articles from Michigan Health Blog, Bridge Magazine, US News & World Report, MarketWatch, HealthDay, USA Today, Popular Science, Healthline, The Hill, Metro Parent, Net York Daily News, and The Independent.

Among the 32% of parents who say their child is unlikely to get flu vaccine this year, the most common reasons include concerns about side effects from flu vaccine (42%) and belief that flu vaccine is not necessary (40%) or effective (32%). Fourteen percent will not seek flu vaccine because they are keeping children away from health care sites due to COVID; 9% say their child is afraid of needles or does not want to get flu vaccine.

Only 44% of parents say their child’s regular health care provider strongly recommends that their child get flu vaccine this year, and 23% say the provider recommends it; one-third of parents do not recall a provider recommending their child get flu vaccine this year. Among parents who report their child’s provider strongly recommends flu vaccine this year, 92% intend for their child to be vaccinated, compared to 62% of those whose provider recommends and 40% who do not recall a provider recommendation to get flu vaccine this year.

One-third of parents (34%) believe that having children get flu vaccine is more important this year compared to other years; 8% say it is less important, and 58% say it is about the same. Parents who believe flu vaccine is more important this year are more likely to intend for their child to get the vaccine (94% more important vs 55% same/less important).

Among parents who said their child got flu vaccine last year, nearly all (96%) intend to have their child get flu vaccine this year. In contrast, among parents whose child did not get flu vaccine last year, only 28% say their child is likely to get flu vaccine this year.

Two-thirds of parents intend to have their child get flu vaccine this year (49% very likely and 19% likely). Parental intention regarding flu vaccine this year is slightly lower for parents of teens compared to younger children (73% for 2-4 years, 70% for 5-12 years, and 65% for 13-18 years).

Public health experts have emphasized that during the COVID pandemic, it is important for people of all ages to get seasonal flu vaccine this year. In August 2020, the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents about getting flu vaccine for their children age 2-18 years.

Implications

Public health experts have emphasized the particular importance of flu vaccination during the COVID pandemic as a tool to limit the stress on health care systems. This includes reducing the number of influenza-related hospitalizations and doctor visits, and decreasing the need for diagnostic tests to distinguish influenza from COVID. Children should get flu vaccine to protect themselves and to prevent the spread of influenza to family members and others.

Results from this Mott Poll indicate that not all parents are hearing this message: only 1 in 3 parents said it’s more important for their child to get flu vaccine during this pandemic year than in a regular year. Among parents who believe flu vaccination is more important this year, nearly all intend to have their child vaccinated. However, most parents in this group reported their child also received flu vaccine last year. This may be reaching the segment of parents who were already aware that children are recommended to get flu vaccine every year and have established a pattern of doing so.

A key challenge for public health officials is how to reach parents who do not seek annual flu vaccination for their child. In this poll, among parents whose child did not get flu vaccine last year, only 28% indicated their child is likely to get flu vaccine this year. When annual flu vaccination is not a pattern, parents need to be prompted to think about why their child needs flu vaccine, and when and where to get it.

Typically, child health providers guide parents on what vaccines children should receive, yet less than half of parents indicated their child’s doctor strongly recommends flu vaccine for this year. Some providers focus their discussion on the specific vaccines that will be given during that day’s office visit; this works well for vaccines given on an age-based timeframe, but precludes discussion of flu vaccine for children who are not scheduled for office visits during flu vaccine season. This poll indicates that child health providers may need to give proactive guidance about flu vaccine during visits in the spring and summer.

Another barrier is the impact of COVID on the health care delivery system. Many practices have limited in-person visits, with increased use of telehealth. These changes in care may reduce the amount of time that parents spend talking with the provider and staff, impeding their ability to ask questions about flu vaccine safety and effectiveness, which are significant concerns for many parents.

For some parents, COVID also has a negative impact on their willingness to bring their child to a health care setting – for flu vaccine or other services – due to concerns about being exposed to COVID. Most child health providers have made changes in their office environment and protocols to keep children and parents safe when they come in for office visits or vaccines. Some practices are even offering drive-through vaccination. Parents who are concerned about COVID exposure should contact their child’s provider to learn about what types of precautions have been put in place.

Given the results of this Mott Poll, child health providers should pursue multiple strategies to emphasize the importance of flu vaccine during this COVID pandemic. Providers should make it a point during all in-person and telehealth visits to clearly state their recommendation for all children older than 6 months to get flu vaccine. In addition, providers may send reminder postcards or add a banner message to their practice website to emphasize the importance of children getting flu vaccine during this pandemic year. Reminder notices and website information should outline changes to practice operations so that parents feel safe bringing children in for vaccination and other services.

Some children, particularly teens, receive flu vaccine outside of their usual health care provider office, and many retail pharmacies are expanding their flu vaccine services to children during the pandemic. Parents who are unable to get flu vaccine appointments at their child’s usual health care provider should contact a local pharmacy to find out the specific ages and times that flu vaccinations are available for children.