The US has recorded its highest number of measles cases in 33 years, with at least 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to data from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Outbreak Response Innovation. This surpasses the previous recent high set in 2019 with 1,274 cases and marks the largest tally since 1992, per CNN and the Washington Post. The surge in cases comes as vaccine coverage drops and anti-vaccine sentiment grows. At least 155 people have been hospitalized and three have died in 2025, including two children in Texas and a man in New Mexico, all unvaccinated. The CDC reports that about 92% of this year's cases were in people unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status.
The biggest outbreak has occurred in West Texas, where over 750 cases have been counted since January, though the actual number is likely higher. The outbreak has spread to nearby states, and smaller clusters have appeared elsewhere, often after travel abroad. Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 but has resurfaced in recent years, mainly in communities with low vaccination rates. Vaccine misinformation and distrust have fueled the resurgence, with recent polling showing public confidence in federal health agencies at a low. The national vaccination rate for measles, mumps, and rubella among kindergartners has dropped below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. Experts warn that if linked cases continue to spread for more than a year, the US could lose its measles elimination status.
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