The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 17 more measles cases today, bringing the total to 1,214 confirmed cases from 36 jurisdictions. This uptick in cases puts the country closer to surpassing the 1,274 cases reported in 2019, which is the highest number recorded since the disease was eliminated from the US in 2020.
Measles cases have slowed since peaking in late March, but the recent increase brings concerns about vaccination rates. The CDC reported two additional outbreaks, bringing the total to 23 outbreaks this year, with 89% of confirmed cases associated with these outbreaks.
The biggest outbreak in 2025 has been in West Texas, where 750 people have been infected since January. Twelve percent of case-patients have been hospitalized, and three deaths have occurred. Most cases are linked to unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status individuals.
New cases have also been reported in Georgia and Iowa. In Georgia, a new case was confirmed in an unvaccinated person who is a family member of another infected individual. The CDC has emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing measles. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective against the disease, while one dose provides 93% protection.
Maintaining measles elimination status requires vaccination coverage of at least 95%. However, data shows that MMR vaccine coverage among US kindergartners fell to 92.7% during the 2023-2024 school year. In some counties, MMR vaccination rates have dropped by as much as 78% since the pandemic began.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/us-adds-17-more-measles-cases-georgia-iowa-report-new-infections