Measles is spreading. Here’s how to stay safe.
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 14 April 2025
⏱️ 24 minutes
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Summary
The United States is experiencing a rise in measles, the most contagious virus in the world. Many of us have questions: Is my child protected? Do I need another vaccine? What about taking vitamin A?
Infectious disease experts worry that the Trump administration’s handling of the outbreak centered in West Texas is creating confusion and hindering an effective response.
Today on “Post Reports,” host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Lena Sun, a national reporter focused on public health and infectious diseases, about what to know about the widening measles outbreak and how families can protect themselves.
Read more:
- Trump has faced measles before. The difference this time is RFK Jr.
- RFK Jr.’s focus on vitamin A for measles worries health experts
- Should you get a measles booster? Here’s what to know.
- Five people who survived measles recount the disease’s horrors
Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Lenny Bernstein.
Listen to our previous episode ”Inside Texas’s Growing Measles Outbreak.”
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The United States is experiencing a serious measles outbreak. |
| 0:06.0 | There have been hundreds of cases. |
| 0:08.0 | At least two children have died in Texas. |
| 0:11.0 | Both were otherwise healthy. |
| 0:13.0 | Neither had been vaccinated. |
| 0:15.0 | Public health experts say the Trump administration's response is woefully inadequate and even dangerous. |
| 0:24.7 | But this isn't the first time President Donald Trump has faced a measles crisis. |
| 0:32.2 | Back in 2019, there was a significant outbreak, and his response was very different. |
| 0:36.9 | My colleague Lena Sun reports on public health and infectious diseases for the Post. Back in 2019, you had President Donald Trump coming out and saying, very matter-of-factly, |
| 0:44.1 | the importance of getting vaccinations and urging parents to get their vaccines. |
| 0:48.8 | They have to get the shot. The vaccinations are so important. This is really going around now. |
| 0:55.0 | They have to get their shot. |
| 0:57.0 | And now, when he was asked about this outbreak, he downplayed it. |
| 1:02.0 | It's so far a fairly small number of people relative to what we're talking about. |
| 1:07.0 | That is a stark contrast because in order to stop an outbreak, you have to have strong messaging from the very top. |
| 1:15.3 | This outbreak will only stop after infects everybody who's vulnerable or people get vaccinated. |
| 1:21.8 | That's the way the outbreak stop. |
| 1:27.2 | What changed for Trump between 2019 and today? |
| 1:32.0 | We have a new Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has a long track record of taking anti-vaccination positions and talking dismissively about the importance of vaccination, |
| 1:49.8 | including the measles vaccine. |
| 1:52.2 | And since he has become Health and Human Services Secretary, his messaging has been consistently inconsistent. |
| 2:00.6 | What we need to do is give them the best information and encourage them to vaccinate. |
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