The United States has recorded 1,288 measles cases so far in 2025, marking the highest number in over three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The last time the country saw numbers this high was in 1992, eight years before measles was declared eliminated in the U.S.
A large outbreak in Texas accounts for more than half of this year’s cases. Since January, Texas has reported 753 infections. While the pace of new cases in the state has slowed, the national case count continues to rise, with more than three dozen states and Washington, D.C. confirming cases. In total, 155 people have been hospitalized, and three have died.
Measles, one of the most contagious viruses known, is highly preventable through the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. However, declining vaccination rates have left many communities vulnerable. National kindergarten vaccination rates have dropped to 92.7%, below the CDC’s recommended 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. In some regions, rates are significantly lower, creating hotspots for the disease to spread.
Experts warn that the resurgence of measles threatens the U.S.’s “elimination” status — a designation indicating no continuous transmission for over a year. Although the risk of losing that status has declined with the slowing Texas outbreak, public health officials say continued vigilance is critical.
Measles is often considered a childhood illness, but it can cause serious complications. About one in eight U.S. cases this year required hospitalization. Severe outcomes can include pneumonia, brain swelling, permanent disability, and even death.
As misinformation about vaccines spreads, health officials continue to urge parents to stay up to date on immunizations to protect both individual children and entire communities from future outbreaks.
Source: NPR