Indiana records first measles case of 2025 amid nationwide outbreak

Why it matters: The outbreak comes at a time of dropping vaccination rates and declining trust in public health institutions. It's an early test of how President Trump's administration — and Kennedy — will handle public health emergencies and infectious disease surveillance.

Driving the news: According to the Indiana Department of Health, the Allen County case is the state's first since a Lake County resident in early 2024.

• The department adds that while the risk to the general public is low, because measles is so easily spread, a single case is considered an outbreak.

If 10 unvaccinated people are in contact with someone who has measles, nine of them will become infected, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Yes, but: The IDOH says more than 93% of people who receive a single dose of MMR vaccine will develop immunity to measles, and more than 97% will be protected after receiving a second dose.

• Two doses are needed to be fully protected.

• People born before 1957 are presumed to be immune.
• Children are routinely vaccinated for measles at 12-15 months and again at 4-6 years of age. But children as young as 6 months old can receive the measles vaccine if they are at risk.

Flashback: The disease was officially eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, thanks to an effective vaccination program.

• Measles rates have risen again as vaccination rates among kindergarteners have dropped below the 95% target set by the CDC.
• Meanwhile, global measles cases are increasing — leading to more chances of an unvaccinated traveler bringing the disease to the U.S.

Go deeper: What to know about U.S. measles cases as outbreak worsens