The United States has seen a significant increase in measles cases this year, with over 1,277 confirmed cases reported as of mid-2025. This milestone surpasses the previous record set in 2019, when there were 1,274 cases. Experts warn that many cases are going unreported, and the actual number is likely to be much higher.
The outbreak is largely concentrated in West Texas, with over 750 confirmed cases associated with one major outbreak that started in late January. The majority of these cases have been in children and adults who are unvaccinated, with only about 8% of confirmed cases in people who had received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but the country has struggled to maintain this status due to low vaccination rates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set a goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have received two doses of the MMR vaccine. However, the US has fallen short of this threshold for four years in a row.
A recent analysis by health-data company Truveta shows that early vaccination rates have jumped among infants in Texas. The number of measles vaccinations administered to 6-month-olds in Texas is over eight times higher than it was in 2019. However, the outbreak’s pace has slowed, and cases continue to accumulate across the country.
Other countries affected by the outbreak include Mexico, Canada, and Ontario, which have reported multiple cases linked to international travel or local transmission. The CDC has advised travelers to be vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine before traveling internationally.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing outbreaks of measles. However, controversy surrounding vaccine safety has led to concerns about the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. The CDC is urging Americans to get vaccinated as soon as possible to prevent further spread of the disease.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/05/health/measles-cases-us-record-since-elimination