Measles Cases Hit 33‑Year HIGH in U.S.!

Health officials report that the United States has recorded its highest number of measles cases in 33 years, driven by low vaccination rates and misinformation that threaten to reverse decades of progress.

At a Glance

• The U.S. has confirmed 1,277 measles cases in 2025—the highest since 1992.
• Measles has spread to 38 states plus Washington, D.C., with West Texas as the epicenter.
• 92% of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
• At least 155 hospitalizations and three deaths have been recorded.
• Experts warn the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status due to sustained community spread.

Resurgence Triggers Widespread Alarm

This year’s 1,277 confirmed measles cases mark the most significant outbreak since 1992. The largest cluster has emerged in West Texas, with more than 750 cases since January. According to the CDC, 92% of cases involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. Additional outbreaks have been reported in 38 states and Washington, D.C., alarming federal health officials and state agencies alike.

Watch a report: Measles Outbreak 2025: Why U.S. Cases Are Surging Again

Hospitalizations and Fatalities Highlight Severity

The outbreak has led to 155 hospitalizations and three confirmed deaths—two previously healthy children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico. These are the first U.S. measles fatalities since 2015. Officials warn that if transmission continues for another five months, the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status, which it achieved in 2000.

Vaccine Gaps Fuel the Crisis

Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergarteners have dipped to around 93%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. Clusters of unvaccinated individuals—particularly in Mennonite communities in Texas and ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in New York—have become outbreak epicenters.

Anti-vaccine rhetoric, including that promoted by political figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has also contributed to declining trust. A Stanford–JAMA study projects millions of cases and thousands of deaths over the next 25 years if current trends persist.

Public Health Urgency and Response

With the virus’ 90% transmission rate among unvaccinated contacts, health agencies are urging urgent MMR vaccinations, especially ahead of school and summer travel. Cuts to local public health workforces, especially in Texas and Florida, have further complicated response capacity. Experts say the country is at a tipping point: measles is not just back—it’s gaining ground.