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13h ago

Global Measles Outbreak Escalates with Over 1,000 U.S. Cases in 2025

The U.S. faces its second-worst year for measles since elimination in 2000, with outbreaks spreading across multiple states and linked to declining vaccination rates.

Public health nurse Lauri Bidinot demonstrates how to give a measles shot to a young girl at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins
A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is prepared at the Andrews County Health Department in Andrews, Texas, on April 8.
Public health officials reported a measles case in Sedgwick County.
State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald gives an update on the statewide response to recent measles outbreaks during a press conference on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Overview

  • The U.S. has reported over 1,000 measles cases in 2025, with more than 800 tied to a West Texas outbreak that has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
  • Ontario, Canada, has recorded 1,440 cases since October 2024, including 101 hospitalizations and eight ICU admissions, raising concerns of losing elimination status.
  • Globally, measles cases are surging, with Yemen and India reporting over 10,000 and 7,000 cases respectively in April, and Europe seeing its highest case count since 1997.
  • Vaccination rates remain below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity in many regions, exacerbating outbreaks in under-vaccinated communities.
  • Health officials emphasize the importance of the MMR vaccine, which provides over 99% protection, as misinformation and pandemic disruptions continue to hinder immunization efforts.