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The United States has recorded 1,288 measles cases in 2025 — the highest annual total in 33 years — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The last time measles spread this widely in the U.S. was in 1992, eight years before it was declared eliminated from the country.
“This is one of the most infectious diseases known to humans, and more importantly, it’s preventable,” said Caitlin Rivers, director of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. “We really hate to see this resurgence of a preventable virus.”
Texas at the Epicenter
A massive outbreak in Texas, responsible for 753 cases, has driven much of the increase. Although the outbreak has slowed, cases are still being reported in over three dozen states and the District of Columbia. To date, 155 people have been hospitalized and three have died nationwide in 2025 due to measles complications.
At the peak in January, Texas was recording up to 20 new cases per day. While that pace has declined, experts warn the situation remains fragile. Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in New York, says the U.S. could soon lose its measles elimination status, which requires that endemic transmission does not persist for over 12 months.
“We are in great danger of losing our measles elimination status — if not this year, then almost certainly in the coming years,” Ratner said.
Vaccination Rates Below Safety Threshold
The CDC estimates that kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen to 92.7%, below the 95% threshold required for community protection. In certain communities, rates are significantly lower, creating pockets of vulnerability that allow measles to spread.
Ratner links this trend directly to growing vaccine hesitancy, which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What we’re seeing now is that those outbreaks are becoming more frequent and larger,” Ratner noted.
Legal and Policy Clashes Over Vaccination
The surge in cases comes amid renewed political controversy around vaccine policies. This week, leading medical associations filed suit against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of undermining public trust in vaccines.
In a statement, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon reaffirmed CDC guidance, stating: “CDC continues to recommend MMR vaccines as the best way to protect against measles.” He emphasized that the agency is supplying vaccines to outbreak zones upon request.
Hospitalizations and Long-Term Risks
Contrary to its reputation as a mild childhood illness, measles can have severe outcomes, including brain damage, blindness, and death. Rivers emphasized that 1 in 8 U.S. cases this year required hospitalization.
“It’s an important reminder for parents on the fence,” Rivers said. “This virus is definitely something worth preventing.”
Prior to the MMR vaccine’s widespread use, nearly 500 children died annually from measles in the U.S.
Public Health on Alert
Public health experts are closely monitoring the evolving situation. While the Texas outbreak has slowed, the consistent weekly case count nationally raises concern about recurrent large-scale outbreaks — especially if vaccination efforts don’t rebound.
“We’re seeing more transmission than we’re used to,” Rivers said. “And that’s a serious problem.”
Key Takeaway: As measles cases reach record levels, public health officials urge parents to vaccinate and warn that the U.S. may lose its long-held measles elimination status unless action is taken.
