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📍 Washington, D.C. — July 11, 2025
The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases reported across 39 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The surge has led to 162 hospitalizations, nearly half involving children under five, and three confirmed deaths, including two unvaccinated children in Texas.
🦠 Outbreak Scope and Spread
- 27 outbreaks have been recorded in 2025, compared to 16 in all of 2024
- 88% of cases are linked to outbreak clusters
- The largest outbreak originated in an undervaccinated community in West Texas, with additional spread into New Mexico
📉 Vaccination Gaps and Risk Factors CDC data shows that 92% of cases occurred in individuals who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. National MMR vaccine coverage among kindergarteners has dropped below the 95% herd immunity threshold, with some counties reporting rates well below 90%, increasing vulnerability to outbreaks.
Dr. Adam Ratner, pediatric infectious disease specialist and author of Booster Shots, warned that measles is “more contagious than flu, COVID, or polio”, and described the outbreak as a “canary in the coal mine” for broader public health risks.
⚠️ Policy and Public Health Concerns The outbreak coincides with controversial changes at the CDC, including the dismissal of all 17 members of its vaccine advisory committee by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously expressed anti-vaccine views. Experts have raised concerns about the committee’s transparency and qualifications, particularly as it considers revising the national vaccine schedule.
📅 Historical Context Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but the current outbreak threatens that status. The previous high was 1,274 cases in 2019, and 2025 has already surpassed that figure with half the year remaining.
For full coverage, see the CDC measles data dashboard and PBS NewsHour interview with Dr. Ratner.
