US measles cases soar to highest level in decades

The United States is grappling with a major surge in measles cases with the total number this year already hitting the highest level in over three decades.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country has confirmed 1,563 measles cases so far in 2025.

This highly contagious disease, which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, has been confirmed in at least 41 states leading to 44 separate outbreaks, a sharp increase from the previous year.

The U.S. has seen more measles cases this year than at any point since the 1990s. Nearly all cases have occurred in people who were either completely unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

The disease is circulating in multiple states, with major outbreaks linked to areas that have lower-than-normal vaccination rates, including Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and South Carolina.

About 12% of people who caught measles this year have needed to be hospitalised. There have been 3 confirmed deaths.

Health experts agree the main reason is falling vaccination rates across the country. The CDC recommends a 95% vaccination rate to protect communities but the national average is now lower.

Public health officials are strongly urging everyone to get the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. They emphasised that the virus spreads incredibly easily and can cause serious complications like Pneumonia.

Dr. William Moss, Executive Director of the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) at Johns Hopkins, warned that the U.S. risks losing its official status of measles elimination.

The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely especially for travellers and in communities with low vaccine coverage.