Uptick in measles cases
The recent measles outbreak is seeing an uptick in multiple parts of the country.
Florida joins a multitude of other states with positive measles cases after a teen in Miami-Dade became the first person to contract the viral disease in the state this year per the Miami Herald.
This comes on the heels of an unvaccinated child in Texas passing away after contracting the disease.
So far, in 2025, there have been 164 cases of measles reported, with 20% of the cases leading to hospitalization.
The best way to prevent the chances of contracting the disease is to be vaccinated and practice standard health-related hygiene.
“The only way to prevent catching it (measles), other than vaccinating is just being cautious,” St. Joseph community health nurse Kristi Billings said. “Germs are everywhere. It’s spread very easily, just like any other infection. A lot of the symptoms are very close to common cold flu. The biggest thing is to watch for the rash.”
The biggest demographic that is typically affected by measles are younger children, specifically if they haven’t received their vaccination.
According to the Missouri Department of Health, 96.1% of kindergarten students in the county are vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella.
The ideal scenario would be to have everyone vaccinated, but their are people who still have concerns.
“I think a lot of people have started to not trust vaccines,” St. Joseph School District health coordinator Tammy Smith-Hinchey said. “We’re kind of in a time of information overload, but schools require vaccinations or vaccinations that have been tried and true. They’ve been around for a long time. They protect your child. It’s just like putting a helmet on before you ride a bicycle, or putting your child in a car seat.”
Missouri requires children’s vaccinations to be up to date prior to enrollment in any school, unless they have a medical or religious exemption.
Missouri hasn’t had a reported measles case this year, but it’s important to have vaccination records up to date with the viral disease spreading in other states.
