While there are no signs of a real zombie apocalypse on the horizon, one viral illness is seemingly back from the dead.
Measles, which was officially eliminated from the United States in the year 2000, has made waves with outbreaks across 30 states this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It’s part of a recent resurgence that saw 285 cases in the U.S. in 2024. This year, in 2025, the United States had seen 884 cases and three confirmed deaths from measles as of April 25, according to the CDC. The vast majority of these cases have occurred in children who are not vaccinated against the virus or have an unknown vaccination status.
Updated before press time, though there have still only been three deaths, the total jumped to 1,024 for confirmed cases in 31 jurisdictions, including Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia as of May 15.
The country is now close to the 1,274 confirmed infections it had over the course of 2019, while kindergarten school vaccination rates have been slowly decreasing over several years, ABC News reported May 16.
Maryland has seen three cases of measles so far in 2025—but thankfully, no new cases since March 20, according to the Maryland Department of Health. At that time, there were two cases in Prince George’s County, following a case in Howard County earlier that month. The Maryland Department of Health continues to educate healthcare providers and the public about measles and recommends that everyone be up to date with their MMR vaccine.
Follow updated news on number of cases and outbreaks by state at cdc.gob/measles/data-research/index.html.
Whether or not your local area has had a recent case of measles, news about measles outbreaks and school policies regarding sick children and vaccination requirements can still have a profound effect on families, according to Dr. Xiomara Arietta.
Arietta, a therapist with Thriveworks who has worked with children and families of all ages for 18 years, is also the mother of a 10-year-old boy. She brings her experience as both a therapist and a parent to help guide other parents as they guide their families through a changing world.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
How can parents manage any anxiety they might have about their children contracting measles?
Take a deep breath and think about where that anxiety is coming from—a concern for your child’s well-being. Rely on facts, and remember what practices you already use in the home to prevent disease—like hand washing, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and not sharing utensils.
Would you have any advice to help parents who have children who can’t be vaccinated against measles or are too young to be vaccinated against measles?
I would encourage parents to gain knowledge about what is the best way to protect themselves and their families. When we have factual knowledge, we can use that knowledge as opposed to letting anxiety drive us. For example, if a baby cannot be vaccinated, what are the boundaries you want to set in your home?
Parents can also schedule an appointment with their provider in person or through telehealth to talk about these things because all of us are more than happy to educate everyone. The CDC has great resources and tips on what to do and how to prevent illness, too.
Knowledge is something that can really dial back anxiety.
How can parents discuss measles with their children without contributing to any anxiety their child might experience about the subject, for example if they’re talking about why they need to visit the doctor, why they’re receiving a shot or why their school friend can’t play today?
One thing parents can do is acknowledge their children’s feelings about difficult circumstances: “I feel really bad, too. Mommy wanted to have lunch with our friend,” or you know, especiallly with the work I do, “Mommy has to keep herself safe so I can keep others safe.”
Also, one overall [piece of] advice I give to families is not to use the doctor as a scary thing, like “Hey, you know if you’re not good, the doctor will give you a needle.” That’s one thing I’ve really discouraged, especially since the pandemic. Instead, I’m like, “Hey, the doctor came in to make you well. Just because the needle is uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s going to hurt you. None of us medical professionals want to hurt people; we just want people to be well, but there are things that are uncomfortable; but, they made us well.”
Sometimes, we don’t tell kids all of the truth because they can’t handle it. So, maybe we don’t say, “Hey, measles can kill me,” but instead we talk more about being cautious and practicing good overall habits to stay healthy.
How can parents judge what is or isn’t age-appropriate when discussing measles?
With the younger kids, it’s something that is going to be a little more new to them. For years, because of vaccination, we didn’t hear much about people getting sick—at some point it was almost unheard of.
I encourage parents to ask questions. Ask your child if they’re washing their hands before lunch. If they aren’t, tell them that they should and teach them to do it at home, and model that behavior for your child. It starts with us.
With teenagers, maybe you can be a little more direct with them, but with little ones, I would do a lot more teaching and asking questions. It just depends on the child. No fear—just much more education and letting them know what to do to avoid disease.
Maryland families can find the latest information about the spread of measles, measles prevention and symptoms at health.maryland.gov/phpa/oideor/immun/pages/measles.aspx.
