The Bay State has not received any reports of recent measles cases, as outbreaks spread across the country and after an unvaccinated child died.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is continuing to urge people to get vaccinated against measles, which is the best protection against the highly contagious disease.

“No recent measles cases have been reported in Massachusetts,” DPH said in a statement on Friday.

When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, most people are protected through community herd immunity, according to the CDC, which estimated Massachusetts’ measles vax rate at more than 96%.

Meanwhile across the country, measles vax coverage has dropped from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.7% in the 2023–2024 school year, leaving about 280,000 kindergartners at risk.

Texas is one of the states with a vax rate below 95%, and now the Lone Star State is dealing with a major measles outbreak. About 150 cases have been reported since late January, with 20 of the patients hospitalized and one unvaccinated child died.

“CDC continues to be in close communication with Texas health authorities about the measles outbreak in West Texas, following the death of a child,” CDC said in a statement. “HHS sends its deepest condolences to the family.”

Measles outbreaks are occurring globally, particularly in Asia, which means there’s an increased likelihood of cases among unvaccinated travelers returning to the U.S.

“Vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection,” the CDC said. “Measles does not have a specific antiviral treatment. Supportive care, including vitamin A administration under the direction of a physician, may be appropriate.”

In addition to Texas, measles cases have recently been reported in Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico, California, and Alaska.

Of the 164 total cases in the country so far this year, 55 of the cases were children under five years old, and 79 of the cases were in the 5-19 age group.

About 95% of the people infected were unvaccinated, or they had an unknown vax status.

“DPH has strong confidence in the MMR (measles containing) vaccine as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)/CDC,” DPH said. “The receipt of two doses of MMR vaccine, as recommended by the ACIP, is about 97% effective in protecting against measles.

“Vaccination according to the routine immunization schedule is the best protection against measles and many other vaccine preventable diseases,” the agency added.

Measles is caused by a virus that spreads very easily from person to person. It usually lasts a week or two.

The virus that causes measles lives in the nose and throat, and is sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. It can stay in the air for up to 2 hours. Other people nearby can then inhale the virus. Touching tissues or sharing a cup used by someone who has measles can also spread the virus.

Measles looks and feels like a cold or the flu at first. A cough, high fever, runny nose and red, watery eyes are common. A few days later, a red, blotchy rash starts on the face, and then spreads to the rest of the body.

“People should consult their physicians for evaluation of febrile illness associated with rash,” DPH said.

Measles is most dangerous for children under 5 years of age, adults over 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Because measles can look like other diseases that cause a rash, the only sure way to know if you have measles is to get tested. Testing is usually done on a swab from your nose or throat, and on blood.