In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles eliminated in the United States. However, new data appears to directly contradict that.
An outbreak that started in West Texas in 2024 is only worsening and cases continue to spread nationwide. So far, in 2025, the CDC confirmed 1,267 measles cases across 38 states.
The U.S. last reported this many cases in 2019, when officials recorded 1,274 cases over the entire year. The number of cases has more than quadrupled this year compared to last.
What do we know about the current outbreak?
Health officials have confirmed that the current outbreak has caused three deaths — two children and one adult.
More than half the cases, 65%, are in children 19 and younger, according to CDC statistics. Officials report that 92% of current cases involve people who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
The CDC reported that approximately 1 in 5 individuals who contract measles require hospitalization.
Texas, New Mexico and Kansas have the highest concentrations of the virus. More than a dozen states are currently experiencing what health authorities call an “active outbreak,” which they define as an outbreak of three or more related cases.
What about the measles vaccine?
Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM
Child vaccination rates have dropped in 78% of U.S. counties studied by Johns Hopkins University since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The record number of measles cases comes amid a decline in vaccination rates nationwide.
A study released in June by Johns Hopkins University looked at more than 2,000 counties in 33 states across the U.S. and found 78% saw a drop in vaccination rates.
Researchers have proven that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is extremely effective at protecting against measles, one of the most highly transmissible diseases in the world. According to the CDC, one dose is 93% effective against measles, and two doses are 97% effective.
The Department of Health and Human Services aims to ensure that at least 95% of kindergartners receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. They say that’s necessary to help prevent outbreaks. The U.S. has missed that goal for the last four years, continuing a trend that started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2023-24 school year, a record number of kindergartners were exempt from required vaccinations. CDC records show the rate of kindergartners who had gotten both doses dropped to 93% from 95% in 2024, and that Immunization rates also fell for polio, whooping cough and chickenpox.
Experts say that while overall vaccination rates remain high, the average rate does not accurately reflect larger drops that are specific to certain states, counties or school districts.