The US has reported 1,288 measles cases this year, the highest number in 33 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The previous record was set in 1992.
Measles transmission is on the rise, with cases confirmed in over three dozen states and the District of Columbia since the start of the year. Texas has reported the most cases, with 753 cases so far this year.
While the number of new cases in Texas has decreased significantly, the overall trend is still concerning. The CDC warns that the US is at risk of losing its measles elimination status if vaccination rates don’t improve.
Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease physician, blames low kindergarten vaccination rates for the increase in outbreaks. Nationwide, only 92.7% of children are vaccinated against measles. Dr. Caitlin Rivers, director of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, notes that even mild cases can be severe and lead to hospitalization.
The CDC continues to recommend MMR vaccines as the best way to protect against measles. The agency provides vaccines to communities dealing with outbreaks as requested. However, controversy surrounds Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who some medical associations have sued for allegedly undermining trust in vaccines among the public.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5461155/measles-outbreak-cdc-vaccination-health