U.S. measles cases hit a record high in 2025, driven by low vaccination rates and a Texas outbreak, sparking fears of losing elimination status.
Surge in Cases Alarms Health Officials
The United States is grappling with its worst measles outbreak since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. According to data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, at least 1,277 measles cases have been confirmed in 2025 so far—surpassing the 1,274 cases reported during the previous record year of 2019. The surge stems largely from a major outbreak in an undervaccinated region of West Texas, exposing gaps in the nation’s immunization coverage.
Epicentre in Texas Sparks Nationwide Spread
The outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, Texas, where nearly one in four kindergartners lacked the recommended measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. More than 750 cases have been tied to this outbreak, with additional infections spreading to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and beyond. Special vaccination clinics and revised guidelines for early immunization have been launched in affected areas, but health officials warn that transmission continues across 38 states.
Vaccination Gaps Leave Communities Vulnerable
Experts point to declining childhood vaccination rates as a key driver of the surge. The U.S. has missed the target of 95% MMR coverage among kindergartners for four consecutive years. Nationwide, a record number of families have claimed exemptions, leaving over 125,000 new schoolchildren without at least one state-mandated vaccine this school year. The vast majority of measles cases have occurred in unvaccinated individuals, with young children under five making up more than a quarter of cases.
Policy Uncertainty Complicates Response
The outbreak comes amid shifting federal vaccine policy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—long a controversial figure on vaccines—recently disbanded the expert advisory panel that has traditionally guided immunization policy. Public health leaders, including the American Medical Association, have expressed concern that this move undermines efforts to contain vaccine-preventable diseases at a critical time.
Steps Taken to Contain the Outbreak
In response to the crisis, states like Texas and New Mexico have accelerated vaccination campaigns, including offering the MMR shot to infants as young as six months. Travel advisories have been updated, with the CDC urging all international travelers to ensure full vaccination. Despite these measures, health officials fear that if sustained transmission continues into next year, the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status—a symbolic and practical setback for public health.
Global Context Highlights Growing Threat
The U.S. outbreak mirrors similar surges in Canada and Mexico, where measles deaths have been reported this year. International spread, including links to outbreaks in Ontario and Mexico’s Chihuahua state, underscores how global measles activity contributes to domestic risk. Experts emphasize that the highly contagious nature of measles demands high vaccination coverage to protect communities and prevent further escalation.
