What Is the Ethnicity of People Getting Measles?
Immigrants aren't starting measles outbreaks.
Can you guess the ethnicity of people who are getting measles the last few years?
Wait, why is that even a question?
Anti-vaccine influencers continue to blame measles outbreaks on immigrants, even though most of the cases are in citizens of the United States.
What Is the Ethnicity of People Getting Measles?
And these outbreaks typically start when an unvaccinated person in the United States travel out of the country or to any area where there is a lot of measles.
“Whilst this rise in measles cases in the US has been portrayed in the media as an issue of immigration of non-US citizens into the country, it has been shown that there is no correlation between the share of a state's population that is foreign born and its rate of measles. The incidence of measles has become increasingly due to US-acquired cases - with most being epidemiologically or virologically linked to imported cases by US residents who have travelled to areas with high prevalence of measles.”
Measles outbreaks in the United States in 2025: Practice, policy, and the canary in the coalmine
Alternatively, an international traveler might bring measles with them when they visit the United States.
Now, while the ethnicity of people getting measles aren’t usually published, it isn’t hard to figure out when you simply take a little time to see where the bigger outbreaks are happening.
For example, the largest outbreak last year was in Mennonite communities of West Texas.
And this year, the largest outbreaks have been in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is nearly 70% white.
Another is in Utah, especially Utah County and the TriCounty and Southwest Utah area, which are over 80% white.
And then there are the large outbreaks in:
Collier County, Florida at Ave Maria University, which is predominantly white, with few international students
Mohave County, Arizona, which is predominately white, with a below average international community
But no outbreaks in communities with large immigrant populations!
Are Immigrants Triggering Measles Outbreaks?
So, what does all of this tell you?
It tells you that the great majority, if not all of the people getting measles in the United States are not immigrants!
In fact, most of these communities are below average in terms of their immigrant populations!
Sure, there are a few immigrant centers with measles outbreaks, but that is more a function of overcrowding and poor conditions than anything else. And they represent a small percentage of total measles cases.
“Among the children who met inclusion criteria, 24% (n = 219 378) had at least 1 non–US-born parent. When comparing children with US-born parents, MMR status at 36 months was 3% to 10% higher for children with at least 1 parent born in India, Philippines, or Mexico.”
Vaccine Coverage at 36 Months and 7 Years by Parental Birth Country, Washington State
And anyway, many immigrants are well vaccinated!
So if we many to stop the measles outbreaks ‘we’ can stop blaming immigrants and can just get more people vaccinated.
More on Measles Outbreaks
Red Measles Is Taking on a New Meaning With Measles Cases Soaring in Red States
Is there evidence linking the Texas measles outbreak to a surge in illegal immigration?
Measles outbreaks in the United States in 2025: Practice, policy, and the canary in the coalmine
No basis for claims Canadian measles outbreak originated with migrants
Posts Make Unsupported Claims About Origin of Texas Measles Outbreak
Vaccine Coverage at 36 Months and 7 Years by Parental Birth Country, Washington State