First Measles Case of 2025 Confirmed in Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, LA - Cases of the measles have been closing in on Louisiana with a case last week reported in the Longview area. Now we know there is a case in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed a case of measles in the New Orleans area. Experts believe this patient recently traveled out of the country.

This person was treated at a hospital in the New Orleans area and released to go home, but remain in isolation.

The patient did not have to be hospitalized and will remain in isolation until no longer contagious to others.

Experts have been notifying folks who may have come in contact with the infected person who was not vaccinated.

This is the first measles case reported in Louisiana so far this year.

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Last year, there were 3 confirmed cases of measles in Louisiana. All were from the New Orleans area and each case was related to travel outside of the state.

What State Has Had the Most Cases of Measles?

Texas has the highest number of cases in the nation with 561. There have been two deaths from measles in Texas this year. Another death is being investigated in New Mexico. The number of cases this year is nearly triple the total number reported in 2024, when the nation had 285 cases. New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas, Indiana and Michigan have all reported several cases of the measles.

Who Is Most at Risk for Getting Measles?

The Louisiana Department of Health says that group includes:

1. Infants younger than 12 months old
2. Pregnant women without evidence of measles immunity
3. Severely immunocompromised individuals

Louisiana is one of 3 states reported the first measles case of the year over the weekend. Missouri and Virginia also now have at least one case.

The total number of U.S. measles cases has climbed to 800 so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reports 96% of this year's cases involve people who have not been vaccinated.